Rat's Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

BB_TX · Mar 14, 2005

Rat\'s Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

Took my F250 SD into the shop because some of my electrical stuff suddenly quit working. Service assistant just called and said that there was the biggest rat's nest he had ever seen under my hood. Wires had been chewed and shorted. Question. How do you keep the rats out? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Truck will not fit in the garage so I am stuck with parking outside. I seem to remember some posts of this and tractors, but not trucks. Anyone had the problem and solution?

riptides · Mar 14, 2005

Re: Rat\'s Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

I put out a bowl of rat-be-gone in my engine compartment when my mower went through the same ordeal.

I figured, the rats and mice would lay up there due to the nesting instincts of the colony.

Problem solved....

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BB_TX · Mar 14, 2005

Re: Rat\'s Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

I didn't see the nest. But I am wondering if it is not a squirrel. I have heard they would do the same thing. I frequently see a squirrel in an oak tree about 20' from where I park my truck. No nest in the tree itself, but the squirrel is a frequent visitor. With daily driving, I would not have thought anything would have built a permanent nest. He must get a heck of a ride everyday.

bczoom · Mar 14, 2005

Re: Rat\'s Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

Oh, what the heck. Maybe this will work.

Get a few friends together (I'd recommend 5 or 6).
Do this at night.
Have 1 sneak into the drivers seat and on a hand signal, pop the hood open.
Have another with a flashlight into the engine compartment.
Everyone else unload their shotguns into the engine compartment. Even if you don't get one that night, if you repeat this process every night for a week or so, they'll be too scared to return. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

OK, kidding aside. What riptides said works. Something to consider is to put the bait in some chicken wire or something where you can secure and control it and it'll stay in place for awhile.

Does this truck sit for long periods? If so, maybe put a block of the poison on the ground under the engine compartment as well (but watch out if you have other critters you don't want dead).

riptides · Mar 14, 2005

Re: Rat\'s Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

Well if it is squirrel, you would see the acorns.

Don't ask me how I know this, ok? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Please...

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BB_TX · Mar 14, 2005

Re: Rat\'s Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

You know, I've got some friends who would probably love to do just what you describe. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 Does this truck sit for long periods? 
I drive the truck to work everyday. And most weekends, I drive it at least one if not both days.

bczoom · Mar 14, 2005

Re: Rat\'s Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

Bill,

Sorry. I see that now. We were typing posting at the same time when I asked that.

Squirrel for dinner and see if the problem goes away? Like Mike said, any acorns?

( Don't ask me how I know this, ok? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Please... )

OK Mike, are you begging for us to ask or not ask (the "Please" seems like it could go either way).

BarryinMN · Mar 14, 2005

Re: Rat\'s Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

I had a groundhog take up residence in my dump truck. He liked sitting on top of the front tire & watching the yard.

Didn't want to shoot holes in my new tires.

Took the truck for a drive down the county highway & about three miles down heard a thump.

On the way back saw a large bloody spot in the middle of the road.

No problems since. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

MF1455v · Mar 15, 2005

Re: Rat\'s Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

We had a friend last fall that had the same problem with a rat. They parked the pickup over the weekend. Monday morning the truck would not start. It was towed to dealer (truck was 6 months old) and wiring was repaired. When they went to pick it up again to would not start. Rat had been hiding somewhere under the truck. It was left overnight with many traps placed in, under and on the truck. No more rat and then the repairs were made.

We have a good cat that keeps our rat population in check. I've never been a cat person but this one does a great job of earning his keep.

riptides · Mar 15, 2005

Re: Rat\'s Nest Under the Hood of My Truck

(
OK Mike, are you begging for us to ask or not ask (the "Please" seems like it could go either way). )

Very embarressing to admit. I noticed this burning wood smell when the truck was running. I had thought it was just the load of saw dust that usually finds its way onto the catalytic converter. The bed and cab have just enough of a gap to let it load up on the pipes and whatnot.

So I get the blower out and try and clean it off, the truck is still running.

That is when I notice, wisps of smoke coming out from under the hood.

I go get the fire extinguisher. Hey, been there, never open a smoking hood, without one, The air can make whatever flash over.

I pop the hood, and there are like hundreds of charred burning acorns popping out all over.

YUCK /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The smell is horrible. I spend the next hour digging the remains out of every nook and cranny in the engine. They had even made their way into the air filter assembly. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I think they were suck in.

I still have some rolling around in the dashboard. Every now and then one pops out by my leg, from the air vent.

My kids call it the squirrelmobile.

I think the squirrels lost their winter food storeage that year.

It was pretty messy.

-Mike Z.