Rodent nest in truck

[happycamper1942]

This is a new one for me. I took my truck in for a service today and when I went to pick it up the mechanic told me he found a rodent nest at the back of the engine against the firewall. He pulled it out, and showed me about a cubic foot of grey insulation, I guess from the firewall. No sign of any other damage to wires etc, but I guess I am short of soundproofing now!!
The truck stays outside all of the time, and we have had a few nights below zero, so the mouse or rat found a nice warm engine to cosy up to.
I have set a trap in the engine compartment, and also in my 5th wheel basement to see if I can flush them out.
Does anyone have any experience with the electronic things you plug in to keep mice etc away? Do they work?

[Victory402]

x2 on the moth balls, cheap and effective.

[s3scout]

$3,100 to replace complete wiring harness and engine management computer after critters chewed into the plastic under hood box that houses fuses and relays in my 2500

[old_guy]

came into the chevy garage one day and there a big group around a car. went over to see what was going on and this couple was out to the lake fishing and they found a varmint of some kind in the little hole of the fender wheel. they called a vet and he gave the varmint a shot and then they reached in and pulled it out, put it in a cage and took it back to the lake and let it go.

[Ka_Ron]

We had a mouse problem in our motor home and then we found Fresh Cab
We placed these in the underbelly area and in the motor home itself.
We placed some traps for the first little while and then no more mice.
You can get Fresh Cab at Buckerfields stores in BC

Here is some info for you....FRESH CAB

[Desertboy]

If the nest was that big its a rat, and not a mouse. Mouse will make a nest that will fit in the palm of our hand. There so many different kinds. Wood rats hang out in brush piles and firewood stacks, attics and places like that. And they are as big as a squirrel and Ive seen one give my cat a pretty good fight. I have also seen them carry open end wrenches and other shiny objects to there nest, Hence the name pack rat. And they will eat your car up. Ive tried a lot of things, but the most effective thing I tried was Gopher poison if you have a lot of them, I like traps because you catch them and remove them and don't take a chance on him dying where you cant get to him. But if they are really doing damage get you a little metal can like Vienna sausages come in and poke a tiny hole in it and run a wire through the hole where you can fasten it snug to something under the hood. And just add a little gopher poison, not so much it comes out when you hit a bump. A few grains wont kill a dog though anyway. I buy it by the 5 gallon buckets for my gopher plow that I use in my hay meadows. Plow puts it underground but a few times Ive spilled a little and it didn't kill my chickens or anything. I leave the can there permanently so I can just pop the hood and add a little bit occasionally. I have found them laying by the can. It works.

[Buzzcut1]

snap traps baited with peanut butter under the hood when I lived in the mountains. I snared at least one critter a day for a while then they sort of petered out

[buta4]

Moth Balls!

Skunks invaded my shed under the wooden floor. She had a litter of pups. I was told to try moth balls as the scent actually bothers their eyes and nasal passages.

I bought about 10 boxes of mothballs and tossed them around above and below the shed floor. Two days later the skunks had left, the whole family had left, lol.

If it affects their comfort it'll probably affect other small animals.

Worked also on squirrels who were setting up housekeeping in my attic.

Don't use flakes as rain will dissolve the flakes fast.

[s1214]

Had one behind the air filter and another one inside the dash by the heater core. Only thing that worked was snap traps.

[BB_TX]

I would say you got lucky.
I had a rodent (mouse, rat, squirrel, ?) get under the hood of my truck Dec '08, build a nest, and ate vacuum hoses and wires (both the insulation and the metal wire :E) to the tune of about $400.
Did it again a year later Dec '09, Jan '10 twice, and Feb '10. Each time same damage, same costs. Except the last time dealer gave me a volume discount. :S
Tried traps, tried fox urine, tried moth balls, no help. Finally found something called Critter Ridder at Home Depot. Sprayed it around all hoses and wiring under the hood and no more problem.
The dealer (local Ford dealer) said they have the same problem with cars and trucks on their lot. Told him about the Critter Ridder and he was going to try that.

[DianneOK]

Dont waste your money on the gadgets. Get some traps

[Francesca_Knowl]

Very, very common- we live in the woods, so our main nemesis is squirrels. I've had the little buggers build nests in my car's heating ducts TWICE, my husband's truck's air cleaner once, and we once had to disassemble the center console in my Mom's car to remove one they built there.

Something I did notice, though:

I got the nests when I was parking next to our woodpile. For no particular reason, I began to park at the front of the house instead and haven't had a nest since. Could just be a coincidence, but I've wondered if I hadn't inadvertently moved out of the squirrel's "neighborhood".

[Johno02]

My mechanic used to pull at least one nest out from under the hood of my 2000 Chevy van every time I had it serviced.