this is weird, on tuesday started the truck to go to work. would not idle until a minute after foot feeding the gas pedal. Friday, off work and time to investigate and find a squirrel camped out in engine bay. We have our farewells (or so I thought) and I find the IAC wire(two wires) gnawed off. Dealer repairs, truck runs great. Today it won't run right, pop the hood and there is nesting debris on the throttle body and my IAC wires are again gnawed off from the new plug. Though I find no squirrel this time it is obvious he's been back. I guess he's laying on top of the throttle body and that wire going across it pisses him off. The only thing I can find damaged is the wire to the IAC plug.
How do you get rid off a squirrel that's damaging your truck (I live well inside the city limits so a .22 or the like isn't an option.

Thanks for any suggestions, Achtung

 

22's come in a wide variety, I have a 22 pistol that take all but magnums and "some people" can shoot a 22 short/CB without causing any reaction. The tiny rounds have just enough energy to end a possum, but sounds like you dropped a board on concrete.

However, you have a couple of other options. Moth ***** keep everything but mother in-laws at bay. My grandmother swore by them after the family of skunks moved out from under her house. Two others are animals, get a cat or several snakes. Little dogs are often varmint hunters so that wouldn't be a bad option either.

 

thanks reax. I'll try mothballs, there's probably not a law against that, yet!

 

Oh, brother, have I fought squirrels - I'm a combat veteran of squirrel wars.

I own a big old house that the previous owner had allowed the forest to grow right to the eves and squirrels, a couple different kinds of squirrels, had taken up residence. Boy, it might sound funny, but squirrels can cause massive damage. Also, "squirrel chew" can quickly do millions of dollars of damage on electrical installations with exposed electronics that squirrels can access.

Regarding the .22 option, what ReAX was talking about but didn't exactly mention was the new "subsonic" .22 rounds. They fly at just below the sound barrier so the "crack" is greatly reduced. Still, not an option for you.

Moth *****, could be it. Also, at builder's supply shops you can buy a bottle of "animal repellent". Just look in the lawn care supplies.

I will say this. Squirrels are intelligent and highly determined little creatures. They might just set up shop directly on top of repellent, don't know. I've seen them, after being shot, come limping back for more hours later if they are trying to get to a place they want to go.

Trapping would be your best option after repellent. There are a variety of traps and you should find something by Havahart at your local builder's supply shop. Set the trap up by the side of the truck where the squirrel gains access. Use a cap off a plastic water bottle to put a dab of peanut butter on the trip plate.

If you catch it, municipal codes generally state it is better to destroy the creature than transport it, however if you're squeamish you'll probably be better off just taking it a few miles away. You of course want to avoid any legal ramifications with neighborhood kids seeing you destroying it, being unkind to Bamby type stuff.

Good luck...

 

...oh, yeah, forgot to mention, but still might not be good for you

Air rifles are a real possibility. Again, there are many different kinds, and they are not silent but still not too bad. If you go that route, you definitely want a .22, which packs a far greater punch that you might remember from your old BB gun (historically, several military armies once used air rifles exclusively and Lewis and Clark took a famous air rifle with them). If you go really exotic, you can get a scoped air rifle powered by a scuba tank, and brother, you can put a pellet into the same hole at half a football field...

 

Bird Shot from the 22 shouldnt be a problem

 

Borrow a neighbors cat and let it loose around the truck when you know the squirrel is there. You might be able to spray the wires with something that tastes bad but I can't think of anything off the top of my head that would work.

 

Little bowl of antifreeze sitting on the top of the engine.

 

D-Con !!! But wait a week to fix the IAC wires, it takes that long to work.

 

If you left a live pair of 110 wires placed right where the IAC wires are???

 

My fave way to kill rodents is to mix rat poison and peanut butter. Rat bait isn't great, but peanut butter is delicious to rodents. My tame rats loved (non-poisoned of course!) peanut butter so I took advantage of the info.

Antifreeze is nice too.

 

You need to go to the source of the problem. The sqiuirrel works for the local dealership, he's just doing his job.

 

Local cat: Nah, will just sit and watch squirrel eat your world belongings

Little bowl of antifreeze on top of engine: watch our for neighborhood cats and dogs if it spills, etcetera. Messy

Rat poison: squirrels will often mysteriously avoid poison, but mixed with pntbutter? Yeah, I like.

Live 110 AC: Wow, that is clever, just don't get fried yourself.

Hey, there is a rat/rodent trap that works with 4 AA batteries that gives a deadly electric shock when the creature steps on two different charged plates, I've killed a few like that.

Anti-freeze and live AC sounds dangerous but wicked and effective - I like, and if it worked, cool ...but, trapping is in reality the way to go

 

I like the live wire idea. String an old extension cord (or old appliance cord) right next to the IAC wires (use twist ties to tie the cord to the IAC wires) and plug it in. Cut the thicker, outer layer of insulation off the cord before plugging it in...so all that's left are the thinner wires and insulation.

A pellet gun would work great too. But sitting and waiting for the squirrel to come is the worst part. You could sit all day and not see a single one...but as soon as you turn your back, 4 of them will come running.

A live trap would do the trick too. Catch them...fill up a 5 gallon bucket with water...set the trap in the bucket, then walk away for 5 minutes. Presto! Dead squirrel.

I am also a long-time squirrel combatant. Although I just grab my .22 or 20ga and pop them from an open window in the house. I have used my SKS and AK47 on them before...instantly vaporizes them so you don't have to worry about clean-up!

 

Woo-hoo, I like! Also, shooting firearms out of the windows of your residence makes a real social statement :-) Only works with air rifles for most of us, however.

Yeah, trapping is honestly the way to go. The water method for destruction described above is of course the most simple and effective. However, I'm personally not sure of the legal ramifications. Were you to have a PETA fanatic living next door it could be dicy ...hm, don't know. If you go that route the best container for the water is one of the Rubbermaid plastic rectangular storage tubs. They're just the right size for the cage.