Mice!!!

[dieselshadow]

Today I found my battery thermal pads were eaten up by rodents. My truck sits outside the unfortunately. It won’t fit in my garage due to size and the amount of “stuff” in there.

What have you guys used as a repellent under the hood that you know works? I’m thinking about some peppermint oil extract. Maybe soak the battery insulators with it. Dunno. I figure if I don’t do something the insulators will be gone and then they’ll go after stuff like wiring. I obviously can’t have that going on.

Let me know what’s worked for you. Links would be appreciated.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Moth balls in cloth bags.
Check other wiring, if they were up chewing on those battery insulators, they've probably been chewing on other stuff.

 

[DavidC]

Some zip tie the sticky pads around. Better to catch them if possible, then they will not come back. Spray a light bleach/water solution where you can to kill their scent trail as others may follow.

 

[nukegm]

drier sheets. i used bounce. worked in couple vehicles that sit outside. ( i have 8 vehicles ) yes, i have a problem. lol. also, they make a " rat zapper " a plastic enclosure that is electrified on one end. you put food in the end and they go in and get fried. little light comes on to tell you its occupied. used 4 aa batteries. one of the best things i have ever bought in my life. around 40 bucks. good luck cheers!

 

[dieselshadow]

Moth balls in cloth bags.
Check other wiring, if they were up chewing on those battery insulators, they've probably been chewing on other stuff.

I found no other evidence or destruction anywhere. Trust me, I looked.

 

[RammerJam]

#ad

 

[Tuesdak]

The operating temp on these is too low for Phoenix, AZ. The electric traps even burn out here. So I am left with old fashioned spring powered rat traps you set with your foot in pet safe areas.

But knocking them out helps. It's a mouse/rat/roof rat/pack rat/squirrel/chipmunk factory here at times.

https://goodnature.co/

 

[AH64ID]

Put a cat under the hood?

 

[dieselshadow]

I was hoping for some serious assistance here. LOL

My poor new truck thinks I don't care for him. My wallet insists that I do.

Dryer sheets have proven worthless here. I've heard that before, but it just doesn't seem to work.

I'd rather not set traps or any other "catchers" under the hood as this would encourage them to continue to visit. I want to keep them away. Cats? ....yeah, ok. Barn cats are fantastic, but that doesn't work under-hood. LOL

 

[nukegm]

I was hoping for some serious assistance here. LOL

My poor new truck thinks I don't care for him. My wallet insists that I do.

Dryer sheets have proven worthless here. I've heard that before, but it just doesn't seem to work.

I'd rather not set traps or any other "catchers" under the hood as this would encourage them to continue to visit. I want to keep them away. Cats? ....yeah, ok. Barn cats are fantastic, but that doesn't work under-hood. LOL

comrade - i also tried the " amazons choice " ultrasonic repeller. it was worthless. i would try the rat zapper or the other device above - maybe place it by your tire.... just keep catching them until gone? my neighbor caught 11 mice in one night with my rat zapper. in their basement. yuck! cheers!

 

[Jim W]

I have had good luck with Victor Natural Rodent Repeller Pacts. These have to be replaced every other month. I have used them in my trailer for the last couple of years when the trailer is in the storage yard in the winter months. I place one packet in every compartment and in the living area too.

 

[GCroyle]

Put a cat under the hood?

Replace a Cummins with a Cat?

Golly what’s next?

 

[GrantP]

I'd prefer killing them over "repelling" them. I'd start with some spring loaded traps baited with peanut butter underneath the truck. Once that slows down put out some DCon in those little cardboard boxes and then they'll go off and die somewhere else. You can tell if they're taking the bait because they'll chew up the box too. My uncle had a small vacation cabin on a good chunk of (mostly) undeveloped land, this treatment got rid of the mice after a couple months.

 

[JR]

Shadow I feel your pain. I've had major chipmunk issues over the last few years. I've tried most of what has been mentioned with limited success.
Good luck.

Check yer other vehicles too. If they are in one they are in all of em. Don't ask me how I know

P.S. make sure to check between the hood and insulation...give the insulation some good pats with open palm and watch nesting material materialize out of nowhere

 

[nukegm]

one more random thought for you fellas. woodpeckers here in colorado wreak havoc on wood siding. i know a few painters who mix a little cayenne pepper in with the paint/stain ( really ). i have no idea if that works on mice, but maybe try cayenne pepper with a water solution in a spray bottle? dunno. just tossing it out there. cheers!

 

[AH64ID]

one more random thought for you fellas. woodpeckers here in colorado wreak havoc on wood siding. i know a few painters who mix a little cayenne pepper in with the paint/stain ( really ). i have no idea if that works on mice, but maybe try cayenne pepper with a water solution in a spray bottle? dunno. just tossing it out there. cheers!

Interesting. I know that for bird seed hot peppers are used to keep squirrels away because the birds don’t get effected by the pepper oils the same way.

 

[Wiredawg]

I am big into repelling pests... before building the mancave to house vehicles, they sat outside and were varmit targets. I bought a couple large containers of cayanne pepper and sprinkled liberally around and under vehicles. Most are sniffers and cayanne worked for me.

Cheers, Ron

 

[jgillott]

It was commented on above, but if you live in an area where you can have an outdoor cat, get one. If you get a good one, they will be on patrol for practically anything that moves in their territory. The one we have right now is an absolute machine when it comes to pest control.

 

[Rob S]

I'd prefer killing them over "repelling" them. I'd start with some spring loaded traps baited with peanut butter underneath the truck. Once that slows down put out some DCon in those little cardboard boxes and then they'll go off and die somewhere else. You can tell if they're taking the bait because they'll chew up the box too. My uncle had a small vacation cabin on a good chunk of (mostly) undeveloped land, this treatment got rid of the mice after a couple months.

I have also used this method and it worked for me.

 

[HPSimpson]

I used dryer sheets seems to keep the pests away.