Rodent eradication under hood

[Dasmoeturhead]

I've got a rodent that is living under the hood to the engine compartment. I'm pretty sure it's a chipmunk. Both of my battery felt blankets are all chewed up, and it looks like it might make a nest in the night. I have my block heater on, so its a real nice place for them to stay warm. My truck is parked outside, and I live in a heavily wooded area. I tried a,mouse trap with no success. Not sure what to do now. I don't need any wires chewed up.
Has anybody solved this problem? Is like to hear about it. My truck is a,2015 Ram 3500 DRW, MC,4X4,CTD. I have a single car garage , but it takes a bit of maneuvering to get it inside, and makes it a pita to do every time I,want to use the PU.

 

[Jared Herzog]

Try moth balls. Not sure if it will work with a chipmunk though. People will hate this comment but i think it is almost impossible to rid your self of rodents without killing them. If it is a chipmunk a live trap and relocation will probably work. If it is rats and mice there may be many and they may need to be killed before they will give up their cozy new home. Other threads have talked about birds using the battery blanket material for nesting material so do check for bird droppings under hood. I have not had this issue but check every week since the truck is outside at the time. Mice really like the chemicals used to make the wiring in newer cars and can actually cause an insurance company to total a vehicle if the wiring gets really chewed up. And they chew 24/7.

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

Jared h, thanks for the suggestion. I'm almost 100% sure its a chipmunk. I think I have the solution. I've moved stuff around in my garage, and,my PU does actually fit in there. Like I said before its a tight fit, and if I do this, I will have to park my new Honda Pioneer 1000 outside. That sucks cuz I use that everyday, and a dry seat and vehicle is nice. Looks like I'm in the market for a storage shed. This is something we've been thinking about anyway. I never in a million years would have thought that this Dually would fit in this single car garage.

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

Try moth balls. Not sure if it will work with a chipmunk though. People will hate this comment but i think it is almost impossible to rid your self of rodents without killing them. If it is a chipmunk a live trap and relocation will probably work. If it is rats and mice there may be many and they may need to be killed before they will give up their cozy new home. Other threads have talked about birds using the battery blanket material for nesting material so do check for bird droppings under hood. I have not had this issue but check every week since the truck is outside at the time. Mice really like the chemicals used to make the wiring in newer cars and can actually cause an insurance company to total a vehicle if the wiring gets really chewed up. And they chew 24/7.

I'll try those mothballs.

 

[mfurrh55]

Glue traps work pretty good

 

[mwilson]

Sticky traps work, don't like them but there comes a point where a man has to do something to get rid of them. The trap will fetch on something and they die from exhaustion trying to get away.

I now use dryer sheets when storing my truck, under the hood and on the floorboards. Wife suggested it and so far it has worked over the last several years of storage.

Now that I have said that the little varmints are probably eating my truck.......

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

Glue traps work pretty good

School me on glue traps.

 

[Jared Herzog]

I kept my dually garaged last winter. I did have mice in the garage. They came in from under the gasket. This winter my truck is outside parked where we are building our new home so i am keeping an eye on it. Good luck.

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

I kept my dually garaged last winter. I did have mice in the garage. They came in from under the gasket. This winter my truck is outside parked where we are building our new home so i am keeping an eye on it. Good luck.

Thanks, you too.

 

[mwilson]

I'm not a PETA fanatic but do not like to see any creature suffer. A quick death is better.

I will ONLY use these when all other methods have failed.....and you have to be darned careful where you put them...

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/facts/glue_boards.html

 

[MichaelOverfield]

Had same issue, with my truck and some cars with mice. I'm told dryer sheets work, there is a product called "Fresh Cab" that I got at the local Ace hardware, it seems to work, it's a repellent. Also you'll need to seriously clean the area and use copious Lysol, they come back by scent. All that said, perhaps the best way is a cat! I got a rescue "barn cat" set it up in an outside shed complete with electronic cat flap so it could hide from predators like coyotes.. it is a serious hunter and has been racking up kills, no mice not other rodent issues now, and bonus, other neighbors cats now frequent my yard multiplying the kill ratio! Good luck, and you are wise to deal with that early. Oh, also.. check your air filter, I had rodents make a nest INSIDE the air filter housing in 3 separate vehicles, truck included. After cleaning it out I used stainless weld wire to weave a tennis racket like mesh over the air intake to permanently keep them out, in one of my vehicles they got in the heater/AC blower and I had dead mice rotting int there and had to disassemble the dash and seriously disinfect the entire thing, a huge hassle. I'm now seriously appreciating the hunter-killer cat!

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Hang a picture of Hillary Clinton on the firewall.

 

[AaronOregon]

Hang a picture of Hillary Clinton on the firewall.

That's funny s**t right there!

Sounds like a pack-rat. Pop the hood. They won't go in there at night if the hood is open due to fear of owls. Been dealing with them for years out in the country.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

We're rural too, but luckily never had a problem with our vehicles. Now our former toy hauler,....that was a different story.

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

That's funny s**t right there!

Sounds like a pack-rat. Pop the hood. They won't go in there at night if the hood is open due to fear of owls. Been dealing with them for years out in the country.

Sounds like a plan.

 

[buntster]

Hang a picture of Hillary Clinton on the firewall.

Wouldn't that only attract MORE vermin?

 

[mwilson]

Admin-----PLEASE bring back the "Like" button............I could have really used it for some posts in this thread.....

 

[jacknife]

A strong led light on the ground will keep them away. I had a bad problem with a pack rat I even saw him when I popped the hood. No problem since!

 

[DavidC]

Admin-----PLEASE bring back the "Like" button............I could have really used it for some posts in this thread.....

I 2nd the motion

Dave

 

[Bruce Beard]

Fresh Cab!
it really does work. We had rodent problems in vehicles and in the house. Even the exterminator who said that it wouldn't help was amazed at just how well it actually did!
It won't last forever but a new bag every 3 or 4 weeks really does wonders.
Bruce