Rat nest & chewed wire covering!
 

Ok, I did a search here about rats, mice and I will try the moth balls and see what happens. Anyone have luck with those?

I live in the desert on 30.5 acres and today found a big rat nest under the hood next to the driver's headlight when I went to have oil added to my engine. :eek:

It used the insulation from my hood to make the nest, plus assorted small sticks, etc. I don't drive every day (I work from home) so the car sits for days at a time.

My big proglem is it also has chewed the cover on the wiring leading from my alternator to the battery.

Can anyone help me find out what that wire is called so I can order another one? I don't know what to look for.

rat problems
 

the best way to keep them out from under your hood is to leave the hood up, they want to find a dark secure place to eat and or have their young, if the hood is up there is no privacy for them, i have seen this trick work for yearsl, i can tell you a part you need with a vin number.

You might need a Cat scan

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...achmentid=4936

Lol!!
 

Actually I have a great outside feral cat that kills mice and rats every night (he leaves me presents on my front door mat)...but obviously even he can't keep up! This has been such a wet winter for California deserts and we are really in for the rodent invasion!

What's worse is...with lots of mice and rats you have more snakes! Rattlesnakes!

Wind?
 

I sent you a PM. Thank you!

I do worry about leaving the hood up out here. We get high winds in the desert (sometimes gusts of 50+ mph). Could my hood rip loose?

My problem, last Christmas, was caused by squirrels;
 

and I have since found a squirrel repellent at Ace Hardware which seems to be doing the job -- some granules to spread around under the hood.

Thanks, I'll try that!