Little wire Eating Rats

[KBEAT]

I just built a new barn to house all my toys, I mean tools. Went out last week to use the tractor and lifted the hood to check everything. There was a nest sitting on top of my gas tank with 4 little eyes looking back at me. Got the mice out and pulled the nest out only to notice the nest had small pieces of color in it. Got a flashlight out and looked at the wire harness, the insulation is almost all gone on both wires from the lines to the fuel gage.

Any one have any suggestions to keep the little rats away other than a cat ? I put out some of the rodent blocks, but am afraid of the dogs getting into them if I put out too many. Anything that I can wrap the wires with that the mice won't eat ?

 

[intel]

Moth balls maybe, they smell though

 

[jinjimbob]

Poison is never a good idea, as you said your pets and children can get to it and the rodents it kills.

Goto your animal shelter and get a couple of barn cats, they work well, plus you are giving them a home.

 

[3rd Base]

I like the cats idea since you're there to care for them. I had a similar problem with little rodents (shrews) setting up shop in a camper I used to leave outdoors. You'd be surprised at how much damage these cute little guys can do.

I've since had a garage built to store my 'toys' including the camper. Since I'm only there once every few weeks, traps would not be a good idea. I opted for the poison instead. I don't like using it, but I spent the extra $$ and bought the same type bait stations that exterminators use. The rat poison in the bait station would be somewhat difficult to remove without tools or a special key.

 

[SnowRidge]

Another vote for a couple of cats. I'm sure you're shocked.

 

[kentrodngun]

I set up a bucket trap to handle the same problem. I simply took an empty five gallon bucket, added about 4 inches of old anti-freeze, bent a wire coat hanger across the top, threaded a soda can through the coat hanger and coated the can with some peanut butter (more on the bottom for counter balance). Just add a piece of wood as a ramp for the mice and you're done.

Mice crawl up the ramp, jump to get the peanut butter, the can spins and they fall down into the anti-freeze where they die. I use water in place of the anti-freeze in the warm weather. Works like a charm. We've been logging our kills and are now in excess of 100 mice. Best personal day was nine.

Hope no bloggers are mice lovers

 

[Gittyup]

I put moth balls into ziplock bags, punched holes in the bags, and tied them up under the hood away from sources of high heat. Then a just laid a few extra moth balls around the battery tray for good measure. So far so good..... but I also have cats

 

[Gittyup]

I've also been told that pepper spray put on the wires will deter them.

 

[Sandlot]

These work great. Disposal of the little critters is the only problem. Drowning in a bucket or transport to your neighbors property. Your choice. No worries of poison or little fingers in traps.

http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.c...at_Repeating_Mouse_Trap_1_Clear_Top_T207.html

 

[3RRL]

The traps will get rid of them when they get in them.
I've posted this before when I had that problem. I kept the hood up when I was gone and the critters stopped making their nests in the manifold. It seems they like to be hidden from the exterior so they can do their handiwork in secret. They don't like exposed places.
Just try it one time to see.

BTW, check all your other vehicles too. I forgot to check my Blazer one time and started driving it. After a couple miles it burst into flames and burned to the ground. The critters had not only gnawed through the electrical insulation, but also part of the fuel lines. I posted about it in my Log Home thread. They also chewed up any gloves I would leave out!