A Roadtrek Rat

[gonetothedogs1]

Found evidence of a rat in residence inside the engine compartment this week. Tried the nice route (Fresh Cab packets), after cleaning out all the debris/droppings. It sat next to the repellant packets while eating dinner the next night! Set a snap trap and so far have caught one. Will see what tonight brings. It (they) have pulled out some of the insulation near the firewall but I cannot see evidence of chewed wires. Will take to the mechanic next week to make sure there is no other damage, and will keep snap traps in the engine compartment for the foreseeable future when not traveling. I'm not a happy camper (pun intended). Barb

[My_Roadtrek]

Sailordive wrote:
The problem with rodent poison is the unintended dead; Hawks, Falcons, Eagles, dogs and cats eat the dead and get poisened.

X2

[Sailordive]

The problem with rodent poison is the unintended dead; Hawks, Falcons, Eagles, dogs and cats eat the dead and get poisened.

[drsolo]

I am a great believer now in rodent poison, well at least in the city.

[stan909]

Our van started running rough and checked my Torque program. Had missfire on cylinder 6. My mechanic(bro-inlaw) found chewed wires to the injectors. Fixed that but found computer had been fried (The part that controlled injector 6 anyway) and needed replacing. Found used computer for $120.00. Fixed the problem. Got off lucky. The last owner had van parked next to a field. It must have been mice though because the droppings were not very big. Glad it happened 2 weeks before our 6300 mile trip. That could have been awful.

[gonetothedogs1]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Opened the hood this morning and the trap was untouched. Other traps placed around the yard also empty. Can't believe that only one rat was in the area, so will continue to monitor the traps and re-clean the engine compartment once I'm satisfied there are no more critters about.

[Dog_Folks]

People camping in areas that Pack Rats are very common, tell me that Pack rats are repelled by lights.

A rope light strip under the hood might help.

[charles]

I use a pie plate full of pure ammonia for all kinds of critters. Nothing with lungs will come near it.

Nick

[My_Roadtrek]

A rats a rat.
If you read Mr. Pack Rats site he says to use a 50% solution of PineSol, and water in a spray bottle. Leave the area open (hood, etc) for a couple of weeks to air out.

[gonetothedogs1]

Thanks, Roger. I did wipe down the engine with simple green to eliminate the urine, but it didn't have much effect. Will try vinegar next. Leery of "washing" engine compartment ((have read horror stories of problems from hosing down the engine with water). Interesting video on pack rats. Glad we don't have them here--just your garden variety of wood rat, it seems.

[My_Roadtrek]

Just don't use mothballs in a confined space.
For the rats, you need to get rid of the urine smell or more rats will move in.
I suggest reading Mr. Packrat's web site on how to eliminate the nests, and odor.
Make sure to watch the very well done animation video.

[gonetothedogs1]

buta4: Thanks, will give them a try. I have heard moth balls are the preferred method for packrats also, according to my son in Arizona.

[buta4]

Use mothballs and moth flakes - it irritates their eyes.

I used 10 boxes of mothballs to put onto and under into my wood floor planked area in my garage.

Momma skunk and her kiddos had set up housekeeping under the floorboards.

Two days later they were gone.

[gonetothedogs1]

The van is parked in my carport at home (Port Townsend, Washington)

[azrving]

What general area are you camping in?