Don't forget to check in the valley of the engine. Rodents love to build nests there.

 

I have had years of experience with rats & mice under the hood out here in the desert ...Here is what I found to be effective. First, mount a florescent light (a cheap mechanics light at Harbor Freight is perfect) under the hood with a plugin for when you get home...a light running under the hood will generally keep them out. For the persistent rats/mice do this: Get a 12"-18" of 3"-4" ABS pipe and 2 slip on caps for said pipe. Then cut a hole in one of the caps about two inches in diameter with a hole saw. Then push the caps on the pipe and find some place under the hood to hold it with the cap hole facing slightly upward (use some cable ties to hold in place). Then go to Home Depot and buy some mouse/rat poison cubes (any decent feed store will have them too...they look like green/blue plastic about 1" on a side). Throw a half dozen cubes or more in the tube and check the tube every few days...keeping it well stocked. Your rat problems will be over! The persistent ones will immediately hit the poison cubes and the poison immediately kills their appetite (saving your wiring), then it kills them .

Oh yeah, cover the air intake and any vent intakes with screening (1/4" mewsh stuff will do - ask me how I know ).

 

That's no joke!!! Hanta virus kills people in the Great Basin every year. If you have to clean up rats/mice droppings be sure to wet the area down first (to keep the dust down), wear gloves, and make sure you have a respirator on (just those little ones used for construction demolition).

Here is a link to preventing Hanta virus

 

Last night I set out 1 "humaine" trap and 4 big ol' rat traps.... you know the kind, the old school smashers !!

Humaine trap = 0
Old School = 3 traps sprung, one more rat dead.

My Health, still seems to be good. But I can't say the same for the rat that took one across his back... it blew his inards right out his b-hole !!

I'm going to keep up this battle and will keep trying new things and let you guys know if I find out any new tricks.

I appreciate the continued suggestions... they will quickly become part of my battle plan if this attack continues.

 

WoW Todd. You really have your work cut out for you. I wish you much success and based on your optimistic determination I'd say those rats don't stand a chance. GOOD LUCK!!!

Thanks,
Vivian

 

I put one of those rat traps in my mailbox when we had a rash of late night mail thefts.....never did find that mailbox.

Also, if you have rats get a small terrier. They are so much better than cats at controlling varmints.

 

maybe you should put the rat heads on little sticks around your truck parking spot to see if that scares them away!

Ray

 

I'll be honest... I feel terrible killing these little rodents, it's not my cup of tea, but I also don't like providing a $30,000 hotel for them either.... so the decision is simple.

Your idea would work for me, but I think I'm a little smarter than a rat, I'd probably come out to catch them humping the stick that holds the head.

 

now THAT would make a good picture.

Ray

 

rat's like to chew,I'ed be worried about the wire's,know you dident want to hear that,get to the farm supply and buy some bar bate,down side they stink when their dead.

 

I'm still laughing!!

I had a rat problem for awhile also. The old school traps work great. I once only had a leg in one, then the next day caught a 3 legged rat! I like the ABS pipe w/ the poison on it. Sounds very effective.

 

I would guess that with the hood open a ways they are more exposed to light and other predators and would rather be in the dark. They also tend to be more active at night and hole up during the day. I just open the hood far enough that the underhood light doesn't come on and run down the batteries.

 

nothin' like the smell of dead rat pee pee to get ya goin' in the mornin'

 

If keeping rodents away from yer truck (nice lookin, by the way) is all yer trying to do than just open a box or two of moth ***** under yer hood, most critters don't like the smell of that and they stay away, we use moth ***** in our cabin over the winter months and it seems to help keep the little sob's away.

 

ive never had the mothballs work!!