Getup'ngo
Utah
Senior Member
Joined: 02/18/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
I'm going to be spending the summer at a wildlife
refuge, and I'm told there are problems with rats
chewing wires there. Because it's a refuge, I'm not
allowed to KILL the critters.
I'm sealing all the little spaces mice can squeeze
through to get into the house. But do any of you have
suggestions as how to protect the engine from rats?
Thanks for the help.
Janice and Bandit the Wonder Dog (+ Kiwi too!)
2000 Holiday Rambler Vacationer, 2 slides
Toad green 2001 Honda CRV / Blue Ox towing system
Steer-Safe stabilizer and Bilsteins all around
|
Briteskys
Mesa, AZ
Senior Member
Joined: 09/21/2006
View Profile
|
Don't ask, don't tell.
Pretend they died of old age.
'02 Beaver Patriot Thunder
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Ron & Jane's Travels
|
Tom/Barb
Oak Harbor
Full Member
Joined: 10/16/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Rats and mice and other critters hate the smell of dryer sheets.
don't place them where they can catch fire.
2000 Newmar mountain aire 4091 DP 8.3/350 horse alison 6 speed
|
Phils
Paradise, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/23/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Leave your hood partially open. That makes your underhood area not as attractive of a home to them. I started doing it after the last tow to a shop that was because of a chewed fuel pump relay wire.
I mentioned this to a friend from a high-desert farming community and his comment was "duhhh.... why do you see every vehicle not regularly driven in my area with the hood open?".
Phil
'03 F250 deezle and '01 Komfort 27FS
Off the grid and outta sight at home
Go camping to have neighbors and amenities
|
ShapeShifter
Buffalo, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 04/03/2007
View Profile
|
Tom/Barb wrote:Rats and mice and other critters hate the smell of dryer sheets.
Maybe some do, but I've heard reports from others that say their rodents like to use the dryer sheets for nesting materials.
I've also heard that peppermint oil on cotton balls works well.
There is a product called "Cab Fresh" if I recall correctly that has very good reports, but it may only work in enclosed spaces, I don't know if it would work in an engine compartment.
How about a cat for the mice, and a terrier dog for the rats? 
2007 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40PDQ
400 ISL Cummins/Allison
2002 Chevy Avalanche toad
Inside: Him, Her, and a pack of little furballs...
|
|
|
Gunship Guy
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 08/09/2003
View Profile
|
Coat the wires with cheese spread. Rats/mice hate cheese.
PICS OF STUFF
A grizzly bear with a chainsaw...now there's a killing machine!
|
CJTravler
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 01/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Get a cat...a really big cat.
|
stugpanzer
Illinois
Senior Member
Joined: 06/19/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
What happens in your coach, stays in your coach. If a rodent gets inside, he is mine to do with what I want and for me that means traps.....the type that finishes them once and for all!
2004 Damon Intruder 369W
Workhorse Chassis
|
Getup'ngo
Utah
Senior Member
Joined: 02/18/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Phils wrote:Leave your hood partially open. That makes your underhood area not as attractive of a home to them. I started doing it after the last tow to a shop that was because of a chewed fuel pump relay wire.
I mentioned this to a friend from a high-desert farming community and his comment was "duhhh.... why do you see every vehicle not regularly driven in my area with the hood open?"
Phil
What a concept, Phil. Thanks! And to the cheese-on-wires poster ... Phhhhhttttth! 
Hmmm ... if they are looking for someplace enclosed and dark ... would a bright light in the compartment also deter them?
PS: I just saw a posting on another forum a suggestion about a product called Rataway.
http://www.rataway.com/
It's supposed to be offensive to a variety of animals, including rats, cats and dogs. Makes me wonder whether that would bother my dogs inside the rig.
* This post was
edited 11/12/09 02:48pm by Getup'ngo *
|
Phils
Paradise, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/23/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Getup'ngo wrote:Hmmm ... if they are looking for someplace enclosed and dark ... would a bright light in the compartment also deter them?
I think that would just give them heat and light to read by at night. Prob'ly be even MORE inviting.
Phil
|
|
|
