Hello,

So for second time in 3 years squirrels have gotten under hood and chewed on wires, specially in both front fender wells. I was thinking if the voids in these areas could be filled, would if deter them from these areas? On the passenger side under the aibox is where they particularly like to build a nest. I was thinking of using fiberglass insulation. Has anyone else had success with anything else or see an issue with using fiberglass?

thx

 

Assuming you already have the optional plastic wheel well liners, Ford also makes "filler" wheel well liners behind fog lights. In reality though I'd suspect the time and money spent to physically prevent squirrel intrusion would be significant.

Could some strategically placed rat/squirrel poison that you refill every oil change work to deter squirrels?

 

Live traps baited with peanuts. Unsalted peanuts in the shell work well for me.

 

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Rat poison

Nothing else works

 

Not sure where you live but I am assuming red squirrels. They will chew fiberglass insulation, you'd have to use a metal type product. Trap or shoot them, get a barn cat.

 

Implanting lead “tracking devices” also work.

 

The live trap is a good idea. I had a squirrel eating the wheel well material and also stashing hickory nuts in various places with tje worst being in the gap between the hood and under hood-skin area. I used mothballs, rat poison, squirrel spray and taped the underhood skin openings shut with gorilla tape. So far so good. He was also building a nest in the engine block opening on my 7.3 gas.

 

For what it is worth I had a squirrel problem in my older F-250. They chewed up wires several times. I tried numerous things including peppermint oil and a electronic rodent eliminator I wound up buying a plastic owl from farm and home and hung it close to my truck and they haven't bothered it since. I know people have had varied results with using that but it has worked well with me and I'm going on 3 years now without a problem.

 

Just got a red squirrel with a trap baited with crunchy peanut butter. NOT a live trap.
I'm not really big on killing animals unnecessarily but this one was seen a day previous coming out from under the house. They can be pretty destructive so it had to go. Neighborhood stray cat and a gray fox appreciate it being left out back.
I don't see poison as an option because I like to toss them out for other wildlife to get. From what I've read live traps and relocation aren't a great option because a relocated squirrel won't really be welcomed by squirrels already populating that area and the new squirrel will have trouble getting established and may starve. No idea if that's true or not.

 

i release them out in the country. They might survive or not. Lots of hawks and coyotes around. Rabbits are my biggest pest and I have had no luck trapping them so they get dispatched with my air rifle.

 

I had heard this before I think... I might give this a try dunno. They are pretty smart so I am surprised they fear it after a while; they seem to not be afraid of me until I got after them. I have gray squirrels.

 

Lead poisoning works for me. Destructive tree rats…
Having an outdoor cat and dog also help.

And please stop relocating animals…you’re just making it someone else’s problem. There’s a reason why many states make it illegal to relocate pests.

 

Recently brought the truck in to a local dealership to have recall work performed for unwanted tailgate opening, and have the tires rotated. Since the 3 yr./36k bumper to bumper warranty is about to expire, I asked them to repair what seems to be a cracked windshield washer fluid reservoir. “Low washer fluid” warning light had been coming on for several weeks, but I never ran out of fluid. After our recent road trip down to Florida, I changed my oil and filter myself as I always do. When topping off the washer fluid reservoir from a fresh gallon, it got about half way through the new jug when I noticed it running onto the driveway and my sneakers. Ok, must be a crack about halfway up the reservoir, right? I mention this item to the service manager with the expectation such a crack should be covered under the warranty, by replacing the cracked reservoir. Imagine my surprise when he called a few hours later to inform me, “it’s not a crack, but a critter has chewed a hole in your reservoir. We see this all the time around here. Of course, that’s not covered under your warranty. We can have a replacement reservoir here by tomorrow and install it while performing the tailgate recall repair, at a cost for parts and labor of $668…” Pauses, waiting for my reaction. Nah, no thanks. $668 for a plastic jug, really? “Well, we have to remove a lot of stuff to get that reservoir out. I figured you’d say leave it alone” Yeah for $668, I’ll just keep it filled to where the hole is, maybe try some of that Flex Seal stuff they use on gutters and glass bottom boats on TV. Didn’t bother mentioning to him the warning light was coming on before we left the northeast for the winter. If it was a critter, could’ve been a squirrel or raccoon up north. Anyone think this is something worth pursuing higher up the chain at FoMoCo under the warranty? I haven’t looked under there to see if this is actually a hole chewed by an animal, or a crack caused by the deep freeze we experienced over Christmas weekend. Still, can’t believe there could be that much labor involved. How much could a plastic reservoir cost?

HorizontalHunter Quote: “Implanting lead “tracking devices” also work.” Good one.

 

And you get a meal out of it.