Rats in engine bay

So I went to spray my windshield wiper fluid the other day and it seemed to not be spraying. I figured it was just empty and needed to be refilled. When I got home I went to refill the fluid and it was full. I noticed the hose to the wiper fluid was cut in half and I also noticed rat dropping on top of the engine cover.

Option 1: The hose runs right by the hood hinge where it got cut. Do you guys think it just got caught in the hinge?

Option 2: is that it is a rat or mouse in the engine bay. If so how do I prevent this from keep on happening? I set a few traps around where I parked a while ago and never have they caught a rat. They are tomcat rat traps.

Any advice will help thanks

 

@NewImprovedRon we have one of those he’s not doing a very good job. I even have tried parking in a different spot and still have the same issue with the rat returning. I’m trying to avoid it getting to the wires

 

Once they get into a place they leave their scent behind, they always seem to come back. Peppermint oil. I read that works really good. I think there are a few threads around here where people have offered some pretty good solutions.

 

@NewImprovedRon Think I’ll try the peppermint oil I read about that earlier

 

Think we were both typing up peppermint oil at the same time LOL you beat me to it.

 

@15whtrd yes I read that I’m going to try that where do you buy peppermint oil?

 

Pretty sure any pharmacy should carry it. Anywhere you can get essential oils. Even Walmart.

 

I used peppermint oil from Amazon mixed with warm water in a garden sprayer for my crawl space and it chased the critters out instantly.

 

You haven't parked in downtown San Fran lately?

 

That’s a good idea. I think I’ve got a few critters that come and go under my house and in the attic. I’ve done everything I could to try to button up my house but I still think they found a way in somewhere. My garage is attached and I’m sure they could find a some way in and out. I need to take my own advice get some peppermint oil.

 

It worked surprisingly well. The only downside is you have to reapply fairly regularly.

 

Rat caca. Peppermint oil as mentioned.

 

Not sure how to solve the problem in the engine bay, but I just started a thread on the first step to keeping them out of the cab. We also used peppermint oil cotton balls under the seats and in the glovebox.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/mouse-rodent-proofing-stage-one.44679/

 

I think my problem is it’s generations that keep coming back to nest in the same place. If I can kill their whole family that would help LOL. I’ve killed a few.

 

Mothballs would work but a pita.

 

I used poison too until I brought a cat home from deer camp. I'm not convinced she's the hunter I hoped she was lol.

Bowl of oil will trap them and let them drown if your feeling mean. There's actually a you tube channel dedicated to catching rats and such. My favorite is the minkman.

 

I actually posted a YouTube how to video here on the forum. Rabbits are the big problem here in CO. They love chewing thru wire insulation.

 

Some options...

1. Predator urine, spread it throughout your parking space or engine bay. It will stink, badly.

2. Pepper spray, carefully applied with a shop rag/Q-tips... and goggles.

Or... get a barn kitten, a kitten that was not pampered in its infancy. They are cleaner than house cats and will kill kill kill anything they can get their claws into.

 

I use One Bite rat poison. It works real good. Just tie a few blocks where they are going. They will eat it quick then no more rats in a few days

 

We have pak rats here in AZ and folks that have issues with them will leave their hoods open at night. Some will even put some kind of light in there. The pak rats don't like being in the open.

I don't know if that'll work work regular rats.

 

Toyota uses peanut oil when making those plastic lines.I had that rat chit going on in my 2013 Tundra ate the windshield fluid line up.I’ve got a 2018 Tundra now they sell spray for the Varmints and Pests especially made for this problem.Google it professionals Mechanics use it...Go Easy Rock On

 

Glue traps

 

Ok, so I am almost a pro at this, living here in New Mexico. First, they are mice, not rats. Pack rats live away out in woodpiles, debris, ect...Usually it is best to just leave them there..if you uproot them they may move closer...

2nd,I use mint, boil up a bunch of it in water then put that water in your spray bottle. Spray liberally.

3rd, mice and their ilk are direct descendants of the mob. They like to have their back against the wall. If you were to open the hood every night (assuming you are out of the elements and feel comfortable) they will never go in there.

your windshield wiper fluid line does not look like an animal got it. Too clean of a cut.. I have not looked but I would bet there was a plastic coupler or L that connected it to the next line.

It is a shame that they make the wire shielding out of mice food....

 

Ive had good luck using scented dryer sheets. Put a them in locations where they wont get dislodged and find their way to the exhaust. On my Tacoma, I put them at the corners of the engine bay where there were low spots, next to the fuse box, tied to the engine cover, and a couple other spots.
Before putting them on (or using any deterrent), thoroughly clean out the engine bay to remove droppings and urine. I would also suggest adding 1/4" wire mesh over the cabin air intake to prevent mice from being able to enter the cabin air box.

 

same exact thing happened to me few years ago. no water coming out of the windshield wipers. I checked and found the same hoses all chewed and droppings on engine cover.
I bought that spray from Amazon and worked fine since then: spray inside engine bay and wheel wells.

$22 Exterminators Choice Vehicle Defense Spray for Cars & Trucks - 32 oz - Anti-Squirrel Peppermint & Garlic Formula - Repels Mice & Rats - Safe for Kids & Pets

https://www.amazon.com/Exterminators-Choice-Protection-Repellent-Chewing-All/dp/B01DTBOV06

 

I work for a utility power company, one day a vendor came in selling this wonder paint that kept everything away (wasps, mice, squirrels, ants, etc.), the magic ingredient? Plain black pepper! Apparently everything is repelled by black pepper except humans! So I sprinkled a bunch in a our motorcycle trailer that always had problems with mice and IT WORKED!!! I have my wife get the huge big box store sizes of ground black pepper and use it everywhere (garage, hunting cabin, meat smoker, out building, tractor engine compartment etc.). Of course it needs frequent reapplication in engine bays but it smells good and its cheap.

 

Do you drive your truck daily?

 

@Part_time Yes I do

 

Was at my nephews the other day and he told me that he had some grass seed stored in his shed and put mothballs all around the seed to keep the little rodent b@stards out of it, well the mice made a nest on all the mothballs and of course chewed the bag open to have lunch.

 

OH FU*K!!!!!!!! Sorry OP I don't have anything helpful to add but to say that if it was me in your situation my OCD would make me into an unhinged insane lunatic on a mission of COMPLETE rodent eradication. Every single second of my existence would be dedicated to TERMINATING the rodents. No sleep, no food, nothing else would matter, just complete laser like focus on the task. I might even be tempted to burn the truck to the ground... Oops, sorry again for the rant but I hate rodents. I hope that you are able to resolve this issue in a more level headed manner.