Rodent prevention damage

[Bill K]

I have previously had serious squirrel and mouse to both my F150 and my Camaro. They would get my wiring under the hood and also the fuel lines at the gas tank where the fuel pump is as well as the filler neck hose.
I tried many things, including ultrasonic devices, dryer sheets, moth, balls, and many other things. Nothing seemed to work. I came across uncle Gus rodent repellent at my local tractor supply. They are similar to large teabags that have some kind of herbs in them. They’re kind of expensive and they worked so so.
Here is what I ended up doing that has worked flawlessly for me for the last three years with zero damage. I reuse the uncle Gus rodent repellent bags (over and over) and place them in small plastic containers (empty Working Hands hand cream or Tupperware style) that I drilled holes in. I .place the uncle Gus rodent repellent in the container and soaking them with peppermint oil. I placed one on each fender well and one under the vehicle near where the gas tank is. I also liberallyspray everything under the hood with a spray bottle of peppermint oil, including in front of the air intake, the insulation blanket on the hood and around the battery and all the wiring. Spray a few shots in each fender well too. I do this on the first of every month regardless of the time of year. It has saved me thousands and has worked flawlessly thus far. Give it a shot. It is cheap insurance. You can also make your own mix very cheaply. Buy a bottle of essential oil and mix 50 drops into a quart spray bottle and then fill with warm water the remaining portion. Shake it vigorously and you have yourself your own home mix. A small essential oil bottle lasts me about four months and is less than four bucks. Good luck to you.

I like reusing the rodent repellent bags by recharging with peppermint oil. I'll try that solution with the repellent bags I've been using.

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[Buckingbronco2024]

I had to tow my 2023 Bronco to the dealership with malfunction messages and engine running rough. Many of these issues occurred simultaneously and were different systems (fuel injectors, coolant temp, etc). I suspected electrical issues. Sure enough, I am being told that a rodent chewed through a wiring harness and the estimate is staggering.....$8,000 in parts and labor (most of that is labor), sales tax not included in that!

I cannot afford to have this happen again. I suspect it is squirrels (or rats?). We have many squirrels. Not to mention chewing wires, but they leave their droppings, urine and chewed acorns on the engine and battery. I am going to try using peppermint oil and see how that works. I am curious if anyone out there has had success with this or have other ideas that work. My wife won't allow me to reduce the squirrel population.

I bought the Rodent Reduction package at the Humane Society! 18 lbs of brute force feline named Killer!

 

[BigFootie]

Nice!!! That reminds me of a YouTube I saw a few years ago but the guy set-up a roller over the top with 2 ramps going up to each side of the roller. He smeared peanut butter around the centre of the roller. Mice and rats would walk up onto the roller and get dumped in drowning overnight. He got something crazy like 12 or more in one night. It's more satisfying to slip the barrel out the window like Lee Harvey Oswald and let them have it from the grassy knoll!!!!! Lol!

I’ve got a Crosman .22 and a Benjamin .22. Work great for the squirrels but they’ve learned to avoid the backyard now. I use the trap out front where one of the cars is parked in the driveway. My neighbors might get twitchy seeing the barrel of a rifle sticking out my front door. For the garage, I have an auto reloading bucket trap. Garage seems pretty safe. I did have the little bastards eat the bottom two wires on my motorcycle harness where it plugs into the ignition brain box. Had me stumped for a while. It would start fine but as soon as it got warm, it only fired on the front cylinder. Finally eliminated everything but the brain box. After the knuckle busting job of getting it out, I realized the wires had bare spots showing.

 

[APEX REX]

The only thing Peppermint oil will do is give them minty breath.

 

[totaljustice]

I’ve got a Crosman .22 and a Benjamin .22. Work great for the squirrels but they’ve learned to avoid the backyard now. I use the trap out front where one of the cars is parked in the driveway. My neighbors might get twitchy seeing the barrel of a rifle sticking out my front door. For the garage, I have an auto reloading bucket trap. Garage seems pretty safe. I did have the little bastards eat the bottom two wires on my motorcycle harness where it plugs into the ignition brain box. Had me stumped for a while. It would start fine but as soon as it got warm, it only fired on the front cylinder. Finally eliminated everything but the brain box. After the knuckle busting job of getting it out, I realized the wires had bare spots showing.

My neighbor's buy me pellets!!!! BAHAHAHA!!!!

 

[BroncocnorB]

This is your answer

 

[BigFootie]

This is your answer

Where do you keep the litter box?

 

[Brian_B]

This is your answer

That cat is huge!

 

[BigFootie]

This is my in the garage auto load. No litter box required.

 

[EasternSierra]

I bought the Rodent Reduction package at the Humane Society! 18 lbs of brute force feline named Killer!

You see pictures of fat cats, but my sister had an 18-lb cat that was all muscle and aggression. That thing could have taken out a sizable rat. Most cats won't go for adult Norway rats but do fine with roof rats.

If rats ever get really out of hand you could also call the Mink Guy. This is just one video - he has a lot that are good watching.

 

[Area51BS]

Something about products made today. We have a particular silicone appearing seal used at work on a connector. Mice eat the seals but leave wire alone. Never touched previous rubber seals

 

[#1Broncogirl]

I had to tow my 2023 Bronco to the dealership with malfunction messages and engine running rough. Many of these issues occurred simultaneously and were different systems (fuel injectors, coolant temp, etc). I suspected electrical issues. Sure enough, I am being told that a rodent chewed through a wiring harness and the estimate is staggering.....$8,000 in parts and labor (most of that is labor), sales tax not included in that!

I cannot afford to have this happen again. I suspect it is squirrels (or rats?). We have many squirrels. Not to mention chewing wires, but they leave their droppings, urine and chewed acorns on the engine and battery. I am going to try using peppermint oil and see how that works. I am curious if anyone out there has had success with this or have other ideas that work. My wife won't allow me to reduce the squirrel population.

 

[#1Broncogirl]

We live in the woods with all the rodents along with everything else. Leaving the hood open is the best thing. Along with rat bait bars. You can secure the bars with twine/string in the engine compartment so the Pack rats, mice and squirrels can only chew on them then go off looking for water and die. When you want to drive just remove the bars and put them somewhere safe so your pets and little kids can't reach them. Has worked for us the last 20+ years

 

[Mammal]

Raccoons keep invading my Bronco engine compartment. Currently I have a high intensity motion activated light under the dash, they don't like that blinding light. Problem is when the extension cord circuit trips, or my wife drives off with the cord still plugged in, there is trouble again.

I've had it. I bought a high power electric fence amplifier. Just need to build a corral for the Bronco. Hoping it will shock the $&_#@! out of them. Once raccoons develop a pattern it's hard to stop it

Not sure if this is helpful… but long ago we had a racoon in the attic problem. Animal expert came in and sprayed citronella oil in the attic and left a few tennis ball’s that had soaked in it. In less than 10 minutes the mother broke out of the attic to scout a better location and in less than an hour moved all her babies out.

citronella is stinky, wouldn’t want to put it in my Bronco, but the guy also mentioned leaving a radio on with talk radio works too.

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