Rodent-proof firewall needed

[Jeremiah]

Been awhile since I was on the BBS so I thought I'd kick in with a suggestion for DC or any chemical engineers out there. How about a spray or material that causes rodents (aka rats and mice) to croak when they nibble the firewall or other insulation? I've got about one square foot of firewall insulation left and the varmints want that for their nest or whatever. I've tried everything (smoke bombs, fake owls, mothballs, D-Con, . 22 rifles) and the best solution is a big rat trap sitting on top of the engine. But raising the hood and moving the trap is a pain. Yeah, I know, I could close in my carport but that won't work either for other reasons. I think a poison material sprayed on or bonded to the insulation would do the trick. Any ideas?

 

[Prairie Dog]

I think the problem with applying poison to the insulation is that they would still eat it and tear the heck out of the insulation. We need something that repels them. I use an electric pest repeller gadget made by Black and Decker in my TT. I don't know if it really works but I havent had any mice turn up. Maybe you could try one of these?



Scotty

 

[mwhals]

Funny that I saw this post today as we have the first mouse in our house in 6 years. The poor thing made a mistake as out two cats are not letting it rest. I will probably find it dead or holed up when I get home.



As to the rodent problem, I am assuming you park outside. Do you have any outside cats in the area? The best anti-rodent things going are cats.

 

[zstroken]

Moth balls work, if you don't like cats!

 

[skipro3]

I use sticky traps. But get the big rat sized ones. If you somehow get yourself stuck to one, use some cooking oil. It will release the adhesive. I place those under my hood and double sticky tape them down so I don't have them slide around need to be removed. Your standard trap could be left in place with a bit of double sided tape as well, or just tape one end down with duct tape. Set it near the exhaust and you could kill the pest and have lunch ready by the time you get to work!!

 

[bighammer]

I need something for my old truck. The crows eat my wipers, something ate my vaccuum lines to the front axle, and some kind of rodent used my glovebox as his outhouse. Now I have to worry about something eating the firewall insulation on my new truck as well?

 

[mwhals]

I am real fortunate to have a garage for the truck. I remember finding a mouse nest in a 77 caprice classic with several dead mice. The heat of the engine must have gotten to them. The mouse in my house is still on the loose with the two cats keeping vigilant eyes out for it.



Mark H

 

[wyosteve]

Unfortunately my garage doesn't keep them out. They chewed the firewall and some insulation off my gauge wires this fall. I got some of the potent rat/mouse poison that looks like corn cobs and laid it in front of the truck. Haven't had any problems since then. They eat the heck out of the poison though.

 

[JMKnight]

rodents

My mother in law lived in the Tucson area where packrats ate her insulation. They installed little christmas lites under the hood,and plugged them in at nite. Rats only come out in the dark. Hope this works,J,M. Knight.

 

[mwhals]

Mouse in the house now gone. Glad it didn't find my truck! The score is cat one, mouse zero.



Is there a product that you can spray that gives something a cat odor that might keep rodents away from your truck firewall?

 

[24V-DSL]

I use Bounty clothes dryer sheets stuffed in various spots in the engine compartment. They lose their fragrance after a couple of weeks, but mice do not like the smell when fresh.