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Rodents Nesting In Engine Compartment

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Old Sep 23, 2012 | 01:14 PM
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Rodents Nesting In Engine Compartment

So what do you guys do about this problem. Twice now I have gone away camping and had squirrels/rats trying to nest in the engine compartment. These little buggers do it really quick too, usually within a day or so of parking. Both times there has been minor chewing of electrical harneseses that fortunately didn't result in any issues. I caught them early enough where they had just nawed through the wrapping. I've learned over the years to check every day or so when the truck is parked for extended periods of time, (same problem with my 7.3) but there has to be some kind of deterent. A spray or something? Any ideas

Thanks.
 
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Old Sep 23, 2012 | 01:27 PM
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Can you get rid of them without killing them? Because I don't like murdering living things.
 
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Old Sep 23, 2012 | 02:14 PM
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My god, there isn't any room under there!

There has to be an ultra sonic product available that connects to the battery under the hood. I'm gonna google it and see what happens.
 
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Old Sep 23, 2012 | 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by ruschejj
My god, there isn't any room under there!

There has to be an ultra sonic product available that connects to the battery under the hood. I'm gonna google it and see what happens.
Both times with this truck they have started a nest on the batteries. Don't seem to be particular as they have used both driver and passenger side batteries.
 
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Old Sep 23, 2012 | 06:58 PM
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Go to your local Farm and Ranch store and buy the Cattle ear tags that have the repellent made into them and hang them with zip ties under the hood in 4 or 5 places and that will keep em out.That's what our local vet turned us on to after his 6.0 burned a turbo oil line from a birds nest that caught fire on a long hill pull.
 
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Old Sep 23, 2012 | 07:18 PM
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Good tip. Thanks!
 
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Old Sep 23, 2012 | 07:37 PM
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What a great idea.
Do those things give off a bad smell where keeping them on the truck and truck in a garage would be a bad idea?
 
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Old Sep 23, 2012 | 07:48 PM
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Another thing that's been known to work is to put some of those scented fabric softener dryer sheets under your hood, they don't like the smell. I scatter these though out my shop to keep the mice out.
 
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Old Sep 23, 2012 | 08:35 PM
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No smell at all from the Ear Tags.They work Great and no mess!
 
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Old Sep 23, 2012 | 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by madsonp
Another thing that's been known to work is to put some of those scented fabric softener dryer sheets under your hood, they don't like the smell. I scatter these though out my shop to keep the mice out.
This is what I did,But it didn't work that great for me.I have mice come every winter like clock work.I've had to fix a few wire's under the hood.It's September and I've been gathering supplies for weeks already to get ready for the battle.

I'm gonna try the cattle tags too like mentioned above.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2012 | 01:24 PM
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I also have found nests twice under my hood and they also had wire harness paper tags shreaded into the mix. Must be the glue on the labels that they like. Both my nests were right dead center on top of the motor. One was occupied when I found it.

Originally Posted by madsonp
Another thing that's been known to work is to put some of those scented fabric softener dryer sheets under your hood, they don't like the smell. I scatter these though out my shop to keep the mice out.


That didn't work for me... matter of fact, in one nest there was evidance that they were using the dryer sheets for a blanket. must not have had enough wire labels to keep the nest warm.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2012 | 06:00 PM
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This thread is missing pictures.

Here's the hole the mice/rats made in my truck.



I don't have any problems killing them so I sprinkled some rat poison on some duct tape and stuck it to one of the batteries.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2012 | 06:28 PM
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and here I was going to suggest buying a mongouse and sticking him under the hood. it would cure the issue.
however IDK how much more damage a mongose would do.. But thats not the question the op asked... so based soley on that I found the whole mongouse theory pretty soilid.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2012 | 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by madsonp
Another thing that's been known to work is to put some of those scented fabric softener dryer sheets under your hood, they don't like the smell. I scatter these though out my shop to keep the mice out.
Yea I tried that in my travel trailer one year and the mice made a nest out of the fabric softner sheets... Lol
 
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Old Sep 24, 2012 | 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by rtazz17
Yea I tried that in my travel trailer one year and the mice made a nest out of the fabric softner sheets... Lol
Now I just do it the old fashion way with snap traps.Check it once a week.
 
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