Rodents!

stevenr

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2004
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Cleveland, TN
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So my truck has come under the attack of squirrels or rats. They are chewing on plastic bits like my rear view mirrors, snorkel, etc. I have not looked into the engine bay to see what, if anything they have gnawed on in there.

Anything I can do to keep the critters from eating my truck down to nothing? Garage is not an option. Unfortunately, the truck sits more than it gets driven and has to remain outside... like a tantalizing morsel of goodness for these rodents.

Any words of wisdom is much appreciated.
 

Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,499
213
Alabama
it's probably not leaking enough oil or coolant that usually keeps the critters away (rodents, stray cats, etc)
 

Nomar

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
6,078
13
Virginia
Steven, I have definitely had the same problem.

Part of my ARB wire harness was chewed through last year. Interestingly, only the red wire that turns on the compressor and it was not much damage.

As some MAR attendees from 2009 may remember, I had a freaking black snake(4' long) in my truck.
No doubt he was there to hunt down some rodent goodness, but when he crawled up my leg while cruising down I-64---well, we were both a little surprised.
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
Nomar said:
As some MAR attendees from 2009 may remember, I had a freaking black snake(4' long) in my truck.
No doubt he was there to hunt down some rodent goodness, but when he crawled up my leg while cruising down I-64---well, we were both a little surprised.

Not a bad idea, actually, so long as you keep a window open so he won't be harmed. Nature usually provides a way to keep pests out of an area.

I bring the occasional lizard into my house to eat spiders. I hate spiders. If I find a big enough lizard to eat those horrible wolf spiders, I'm a happy man for a while.

The problem with lizards, though, is that they leave when they are done eating. The spiders don't leave.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

crown14

Well-known member
May 11, 2006
6,288
4
Clayton, NC
Steven this sounds like field mice, I see this a lot but its an easy fix. The problem is the little fuckers can fit in any hole that is a hair bigger than their skull so they can go just about anywhere and hide. In a disco they like to nest where it is dry, so in the glovebox, behind it in the dash, or on top of the headliner are pretty common areas.

You could set mouse traps in there, which will lure them out of the nest but can also attract more from outside the vehicle. I have seen mice climb up the transfer case shifter linkage and chew through the boots just to eat a ketchup packet in the console.

Mice nests have kind of a telltale musty odor, you can usually only smell it if the truck has been shut for some time right after you open the door and get in. If you don't smell this then you may be in luck, but if you do smell it then get ready to do some work.

I would take about 3 quarts lemon ammonia, pour it in a poly container and set it in the rear floorboard area. Then pour 2 quarts bleach into the same container and close the door. Wait one hour, then open all the doors and take the container and pour it on your neighbors lawn. Let it air out, it won't take long. In addition to viciously murdering the mice, the odor of the nest should be more or less neutralized so other mice coming in will be less of a concern. There are two choices on how to proceed at this point, you can let the dead mice bodies sit and dry out whereever they lie (a dead mouse will dry out and stop stinking after a while), or you can track them down and dispose of them. The latter may involve pulling the headliner and dash, but if the mice managed to escape the vehicle then the former might not be such a bad option.

Cheers,

Kenneth
 

stevenr

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Apr 19, 2004
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Cleveland, TN
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So far, I have not noticed anything (obvious) inside the vehicle. However, there are soooo many places that they could be hiding, nesting, eating, etc., that I have not looked into yet. Believe it or not. It's all outside the vehicle that I am seeing stuff. Will try to snap some photos later. Snorkel, hella light covers, outside rear view mirrors... Do i wash my truck with ammonia on the outside?
 

seventyfive

Well-known member
Jan 3, 2010
4,280
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over there
STEVEN,

like joel said mice only need a about 1/4" to get in the cabin. check your evaporator drain tubes.

....i nibbled a bit of your snorkel last weekend, so i'll take the blame for that.

just build a better rat trap and they'll beat a path out of your truck.
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Last edited:

az_max

1
Apr 22, 2005
7,463
2
I had a field mouse take up residence under the hood by the plenum. He used pine needles and the material from the hood pad to make a nice nest.
 

crown14

Well-known member
May 11, 2006
6,288
4
Clayton, NC
374011_447507565284960_2089436504_n.jpg


Found today in a D2 parts truck
 

I HATE PONIES

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2006
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Make them a more attractive home just to the side of the truck. A nice square box with bedding and food. They will move into their nicer home. Then close the door and set fire to that fucker.

After the truck burns throw the rat hotel on the fire.

I have made live traps out of a soup can and a mouse trap that were a stack of fun as a kid on the farm.
 
Jan 26, 2008
1,185
2
In the bunker
I have been fighting mice in our vehicles for years. I tried mothballs, but I think the mice used them for a food source, as what I found left of the mothballs had little teeth marks on them, and I found no dead mice. I tried the Fresh Cab pouches, and although the pouches smell very nice and make your truck smell like a pine forest, I'm not convinced they repel mice. I resisted poison to a point, then got frustrated with the mice and bought poison bait boxes and carefully placed them in the garages and shed. The bait boxes seemed to help a lot. We have had a couple stray cats hanging around lately and they have been killing what mice are not eating from the bait boxes.
Those damned mice love to make nests out of the underhood insulation material.
If I continue to have trouble I will try the chlorine gas method. How long does the gas stay potent? Can I gas the vehicle and leave it for a couple weeks sealed up with the same gassing effect?
I am also curious about the soup can mouse trap method. More info please.
 

stevenr

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Apr 19, 2004
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Cleveland, TN
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I have not looked real hard, but I have not come across any evidence inside the vehicle... yet. I will inspect further on the weekend.

Here is what they are doing outside though:

ChewedMirror.jpg


Chewed_Snorkel.jpg