Here we go again. The wife's 2016 F250 rig was attacked by wood rats (squirrel critters with an ugly tail - they are not cute).

In a different place before she retired her 2006 F150 had to have the engine/trans pulled to replace the cab insulation 'cause the dang things removed it to make nests in fender wells. In that same place my cherry low mileage 2007 Charger SRT8 had to be moved out of the house garage and parked outside for a week by the fire marshal due to wild fires. It only took a week and the rats destroyed the insulation on the firewall/hood liner. The engine had to be pulled to replace the insulation. Over the years we have had no end of equipment damaged by wood rats and mice. The worst are vehicles. It doesn't seem they like diesel stuff as much as gas rigs.

Now her 'new' rig, an 2016 F250 has had the wiring harness destroyed. Oh, Rats. It's backordered until the end of July 2021.

No, don't tell me about poisons. I do mouse and rat poison under the hood of the JD410J but park that outside of places our dogs can get. I don't need a dead dog(s). We do Peppermint oil sprayed liberally under hoods and undercarriages and that seems to work well but it doesn't last long and when being serviced the mechanic can refuse as its too strong.

It's yet another mess and PITB. Any other disaster stories?

 

Had a similar situation with my less than 6 month old 2013 F250 while parked at my farm for 2 days. They chewed the main harness that runs from battery to battery under the front of the engine. It was a mess to replace, with the front axle making things very tight in the area. I don't have a good answer how to prevent it from happening again.

 

What about those ultrasonic electronic emitters?

 

I bought a six pack of those at Costco for use in the shop. I wasn't impressed. Besides, we're talking equipment and those devices don't come in 12v versions.

Is there a solution? I sure haven't found it. Its really like they spend their whole life defeating anything you do to protect your equipment. Maybe it best to get a place it the city and fight the two legged rodents.

Just kidding, that's for sure.

 

Get some cats.

find the burrows and throw poison in there deep in the hole. Where dogs can’t dig

can you trap and then kill them? Throw a smoke bomb see where all the openings are then Cement all the holes but one then fill the dens with water. Who knows you might hear them squealing. Probably makes a good video for you tube


Buddies with pellet guns and have your own call of duty Sniper edition session. It’s you against the zombie rat nation.


watch caddyshack to get ideas. Well it will at least make you laugh

 

Now that's an entertaining reply! Cats? That would provide more entertainment value for three Catahoulas than the wood rats.

We live in the forest. We have a 5' non climb + 2 rows of barbed all around the perimeter and that keeps the bears, big kittys, etc out. The wood rats must come from miles around to visit us. There are no nests inside the fence.

I have never blown any tannerite, the weekend city folks do enough of that. But if I came across an active borough, that would motivate me. A lot of them are under old stumps that need to come out anyway (wink).

 

Animal urine. It is the only thing I found that would keep mice out of my RV. Also worked to keep raccoons away from my koi pond.

https://www.predatorpeestore.com/

 

If you can find the nest stick an exhaust pipe down the hole and let the engine run for a bit. That will put them to sleep. Cats are probably the next best thing.

 

A friend that farms probably has 25 cars in his buildings and shop plus all the farm equipment..He has 3 cats and never has a problem with mice or rats.

 

All the ranchers and farmers I know have semi-ferrell cats, about a half dozen or so, they live in their barns and tack rooms. Neuter and spay them so you don't end up with 35 cats and no rats. They love to jump in side a car or truck and spray to mark their turf.

 

Check out https://www.automatictrap.com/ - pricey - but they work. I like bucket traps too!

Neighbor's 2004 F250 just got the harness ate. Other neighbors tractor was messed up bad.

-Mac

 

We have some adjacent folks who come out on some weekends. Nice folks, non-hunters who wouldn't hurt a fly, literally. We learned that they live trap wood rats and problem squirrels, etc, load them into their rig and drive them five miles away and release.

We have chuckled, wondering how often the critters get back 'home' before they do (wink).