Critters eating my truck!

[NoTrespassing]

Hello All,

For the past few years I've had a major squirrel/mouse problem with a truck that doesn't get driven much. I've managed to trap and kill 2 of the squirrels and I have mouse poison all over the truck. I can see about 20 squirrel nests from where the trucks parked so there's no way I can kill em all. I haven't tried spraying anything on the truck itself but I think that's my next step. I lost the dog that used to keep the squirrels away.

So far they've eaten the wiring to the fuel pump and sending unit along with some other wires for a sensor to the tank. They've eaten the odometer/speedometer electrical wires. They've also eaten an injector wire and stripped the wiring back behind the engine. The trucks in the shop now having the injector wiring fixed along with some other wires.

Can anyone suggest a mixture I can make to spray on the truck and gravel around it that will repell squirrels and mice and not ruin the truck? I know they sell a natural product at Menards but it's very expensive and I'm not sure how well it works or how long it lasts.

Any Ideas?

Kevin

 

[Thomas]

Moth balls and good spray down w/WD40 works for me.

 

[300UGUY]

Is the truck stored indoors? I know that our mouse problem increased exponentially when my wife started storing birdseed in the garage. Got rid of the birdseed, mouses moved on....

 

[NoTrespassing]

Is the truck stored indoors? I know that our mouse problem increased exponentially when my wife started storing birdseed in the garage. Got rid of the birdseed, mouses moved on....

No, it's on a gravel drive outside. There's no indoor storage available.

 

[JB4310]

Squirrels chewed my wiring down to the harness in one place last year.
Never had that happen before, if they went another inch, my grand cherokee would of been in serious trouble, was tough enough splicing wires in the confined space.

I feed squirrels right out the door and never had one do damage before. I think this was one crazy displaced one, I trapped it after the second day of it eating the repairs I made

I did the moth balls like Thomas mentioned, put them in women's stockings.
They do dissolve so they have to be replaced.

I'll have to try the wd 40 too.

Just bought a used car that sat for awhile, was a decent car, but the mice made such a mess I almost didn't buy it. They chewed up the hood insulation and made a nest in the blower fan so thick the fan wouldn't turn!
Pissed all over the top of the engine and filled all the available spaces on top of the engine with seeds debris.

I've heard of expensive cars being insurance losses due to rodent damage.

JB

 

[creekbend]

I am aware that you are searching for a mixture to spray to prevent further damage by mice and squirrels. But have you considered using a cat? Even a family cat that is fed daily and interacts with humans, will help reduce the rodent problem. Just an example: Have you ever seen a cat take down a squirrel? They positively enjoy and take delight in the task. I choose not to elaborate any further in regards to the take down. It will definitely be your decision in what method you decide to use. I am only making a suggestion. Good Luck. I sincerely hope that you eliminate the problem.

 

[JB4310]

I am aware that you are searching for a mixture to spray to prevent further damage by mice and squirrels. But have you considered using a cat? Even a family cat that is fed daily and interacts with humans, will help reduce the rodent problem. Just an example: Have you ever seen a cat take down a squirrel? They positively enjoy and take delight in the task. I choose not to elaborate any further in regards to the take down. It will definitely be your decision in what method you decide to use. I am only making a suggestion. Good Luck. I sincerely hope that you eliminate the problem.

No doubt a cat must help. I know my cat is a killer, but even though he sleeps in my equipment shed on a tractor seat I still have mice in most of the equipment

My cat is not a big time squirrel hunter, though I do find the heads and tails scattered around occasionally.
I think one must of given him a good bite one time, cause if he wanted to kill them, they are quite abundant in my yard, not uncommon to see 8-10 at a time on the ground.

I could keep trapping them if they really caused a problem, but til last year they have not.

JB

 

[creekbend]

No doubt a cat must help. I know my cat is a killer, but even though he sleeps in my equipment shed on a tractor seat I still have mice in most of the equipment

My cat is not a big time squirrel hunter, though I do find the heads and tails scattered around occasionally.
I think one must of given him a good bite one time, cause if he wanted to kill them, they are quite abundant in my yard, not uncommon to see 8-10 at a time on the ground.

I could keep trapping them if they really caused a problem, but til last year they have not.

JB

I must have been lucky over the years. The outside cats that we have had over the years have truly been carnivores-possibly genetic-who knows? Some years the squirrels are abundant here on our place and some years, there aren't as many. We rarely have a mouse problem. I usually trap one or two mice under the kitchen sink yearly.I truly wish the OP success.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I am aware that you are searching for a mixture to spray to prevent further damage by mice and squirrels. But have you considered using a cat? Even a family cat that is fed daily and interacts with humans, will help reduce the rodent problem. Just an example: Have you ever seen a cat take down a squirrel? They positively enjoy and take delight in the task. I choose not to elaborate any further in regards to the take down. It will definitely be your decision in what method you decide to use. I am only making a suggestion. Good Luck. I sincerely hope that you eliminate the problem.

I appreciate the suggestion, unfortunately I've had enough of cats on my property. We also raise chickens and ferel cats killed about a dozen of them and about two dozen of my neighbors.

My neighbor caught one cat that was trapped in his chicken wire and I caught one in a live trap right next to the chicken cage. Those two cats no longer present a problem but there are more out there.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I had suspected that manufacturers have started using soybeans in wire insulation. I did a quick search and found some evidence.

"Today, there are once again cars rolling down assembly lines across America being built with parts made from agricultural products: seats, interior panels, armrests, sunshades, soy wire coatings, carpets, and structural foam. For example, the seats of the new Ford Focus and Chevy Volt are made of Michigan-grown soy material."

Stabenow Announces “Grow it Here, Make it Here” Initiative to Advance Emerging Michigan Industry in Grand Blanc Debbie Stabenow | Senator for Michigan

Whats for dinner Mr. Mouse? Insulation and hoses thats what! | pleasantonautorepair.net

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Don't know about mice, probably a "Ball Bearing" mice/rat trap works best and does not poison other animals that might feed on the bodies.

We had a problem with squirells eating up all the bird seed we put out. Chewed up the plastic containers. Switched to squirell proof feeders and they moved on the greener pasture. Now only see them in the woods. Might work for you, quit feeding them to keep them around.

Side issue on squirells; they love to chew on propane hoses (the odor additive attracts them), they will gnaw all the way through, switched to copper tubing and that ended that.

Ron

 

[creekbend]

I had suspected that manufacturers have started using soybeans in wire insulation. I did a quick search and found some evidence.

"Today, there are once again cars rolling down assembly lines across America being built with parts made from agricultural products: seats, interior panels, armrests, sunshades, soy wire coatings, carpets, and structural foam. For example, the seats of the new Ford Focus and Chevy Volt are made of Michigan-grown soy material."

Stabenow Announces “Grow it Here, Make it Here” Initiative to Advance Emerging Michigan Industry in Grand Blanc Debbie Stabenow | Senator for Michigan

Whats for dinner Mr. Mouse? Insulation and hoses thats what! | pleasantonautorepair.net

Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware that it was that prevalent.

 

[Phils]

We've lived in the country for 35 years and had no problems with mice/squirrels and automotive wiring UNTIL the coyotes ate all of our outside cats.

Then the only tow service I've needed in decades was to get a truck to the shop that had wires eaten. Most of the rest I've just repaired/replaced myself.

I began leaving the hoods halfway up on vehicles I wasn't driving daily. That pretty much stopped the problem.

Doesn't cost anything either.

You just can't use this idea if you live in a subdivision ;-)

Phil

 

[Jstpssng]

Cling free dryer sheets seem to help. And a vehicle doesn't need to set long before the mice find it; twice in the last 3 years I've been driving down the road in my 'company Siverado, and seen mice crawl out of the shroud over the windshield wipers.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Got the truck back today. It cost me $450 to repair. We didn't even bother with the sensor wires on the gas tank so I still have a check engine light on.

I bought granules and liquid "Animal Stopper" at Menards, spent about 35$. I'm going to take the mothball advice too. I'll be putting out more traps tomorrow also.

Kevin

 

[cdaledave89]

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but use ground cayenne pepper. Buy the biggest jar of the cheapest stuff you can find at the grocery store and sprinkle the **** out of everything! I had a problem with mice eating the wiring harnesses on my truck and after spending a few hundred bucks on two separate occasions to have it repaired I stumbled upon this suggestion. I tried it, and the chewing stopped.

 

[JB4310]

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but use ground cayenne pepper. Buy the biggest jar of the cheapest stuff you can find at the grocery store and sprinkle the **** out of everything! I had a problem with mice eating the wiring harnesses on my truck and after spending a few hundred bucks on two separate occasions to have it repaired I stumbled upon this suggestion. I tried it, and the chewing stopped.

Good suggestion!

Probably had some PO-ed rodents with there mouths on fire :laughing:

JB

 

[namesray]

most mice and squirrels i've paid attention to around buildings/vehicles are creatures of habit. they seem to have routine paths/trails they use to gather nesting materials and food to and from their home. to make a long story short, if you park it outside then try moving it to different parking locations from time to time. this throws the rodents off a little bit. i've had problems with rodents and after i changed my parking spot periodically, it seemed to lessen the problem. just an idea. good luck, i can't stand mice or squirrels myself. hate them.

 

[cdaledave89]

most mice and squirrels i've paid attention to around buildings/vehicles are creatures of habit. they seem to have routine paths/trails they use to gather nesting materials and food to and from their home. to make a long story short, if you park it outside then try moving it to different parking locations from time to time. this throws the rodents off a little bit. i've had problems with rodents and after i changed my parking spot periodically, it seemed to lessen the problem. just an idea. good luck, i can't stand mice or squirrels myself. hate them.

Right. This is a good suggestion too. In my case, I didn't have much flexibility in where I parked my truck so they kept coming back to the same spot. Another idea is to keep your engine compartment and undercarriage clean and free from salt. Some poeple say that the mice and squirrels are really chewing the stuff because it has salt on it - rather than the fact that it might be made from soy products, as another poster had mentioned. Of course, it's hard to avoid the salt in the Northeast.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Got the truck back today. It cost me $450 to repair. We didn't even bother with the sensor wires on the gas tank so I still have a check engine light on.

I bought granules and liquid "Animal Stopper" at Menards, spent about 35$. I'm going to take the mothball advice too. I'll be putting out more traps tomorrow also.

Kevin

Well, they're still at it! We recently bought a used suv since we're my wife is due to have our first baby in April. Not only did i buy Animal Stopper as I mentioned before, I also bought 2 boxes of moth balls and another brand of animal repellent spray. I placed the moth balls in the engine compartment of the truck and the suv and threw the rest of them under both vehicles. I also sprayed each engine compartment and around the wheel wells of both vehicles. Yesterday when we pulled into the driveway I watched a %#$%%@ squirrel run out from under our suv! I was so P'od I started cussing a blue streak. Since then I've set 2 live traps and borrowed some leg traps from a coworker to set in the yard. I'm also going to sit on the porch this weekend with my shotgun and wait. They're out of season right now but I don't really care. They're costing me big money now!

Kevin