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Best mice/rat/squirrel damage prevention?

fORdEGON

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I have seen a few threads about people who suffered damages to their rangers from mice rats or squirrels chewing on the wiring harnesses or even getting in the cab/duct work. I’m on a new job re claiming 30+ acres of pastures lands and mowing down all the black berries that have overgrown the house and barns. It’s a multi week project and I’m staying on site in my work trailer. The buildings are absolutely infested with rats and I’m stirring up all their nests. They don’t seem to bother my diesel truck tractors/skid steer or excavator but I have already found dropping under the hood of the ranger after the first night! Dam Ford and their rat food laced wiring !

Does anyone know what the consensus is on the best way to prevent any damage to my truck ? I’ve tried setting traps where I can get them under the hood but it’s a real pain to deal with every time I need to move the truck. We have been asked to avoid a major poison assault by the land owners and they have pest control working on the house and I think all the rats are moving out into my truck. Really can’t afford any down time or damage right now.
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slowmachine

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I have seen a few threads about people who suffered damages to their rangers from mice rats or squirrels chewing on the wiring harnesses or even getting in the cab/duct work. I’m on a new job re claiming 30+ acres of pastures lands and mowing down all the black berries that have overgrown the house and barns. It’s a multi week project and I’m staying on site in my work trailer. The buildings are absolutely infested with rats and I’m stirring up all their nests. They don’t seem to bother my diesel truck tractors/skid steer or excavator but I have already found dropping under the hood of the ranger after the first night! Dam Ford and their rat food laced wiring !

Does anyone know what the consensus is on the best way to prevent any damage to my truck ? I’ve tried setting traps where I can get them under the hood but it’s a real pain to deal with every time I need to move the truck. We have been asked to avoid a major poison assault by the land owners and they have pest control working on the house and I think all the rats are moving out into my truck. Really can’t afford any down time or damage right now.
Sounds like a great time for a rental.
 

Toytec

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wanted33

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"I hate messes to pieces". I put out rat bait, and hope.

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Nellieg

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Encourage predators, Train a martin... Get a good ratter dog... Train a bobcat or fox...otherwise bait traps, poison, deterrents (sonic or odor based) ... long walk ... Use a bicycle to travel back to truck...i have also seen people use plywood cutouts of those predators but rats have horrible eyesight but excellent smell and hearing... I have used cat feces to keep mice away but rats will eat it...
 
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NeptuneRanger

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Just like realtors say... location, location, location. In my business I deal with these claims several times a year. Once they get in the truck they leave urine trails for others to follow. Park away as far as possible from their current home and walk. Rats naturally hate running in open fields or areas lest an owl, snake, coyote or cat notice them.
 

Mustang2Ranger

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This might sound odd, and depends on if you feel comfortable with it while you are on the job

Keep your hood open at night. They go in there for shelter and can sense the warmth in the wires. so if you remove that element by keeping the hood open, you should have no problems

A trick I learned from a friend and people who live in the desert where they have mice
 

DJRPM4131

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This might sound odd, and depends on if you feel comfortable with it while you are on the job

Keep your hood open at night. They go in there for shelter and can sense the warmth in the wires. so if you remove that element by keeping the hood open, you should have no problems

A trick I learned from a friend and people who live in the desert where they have mice
I had $2900 worth of Mouse Damage to my 2019 Ranger in early March. I am using Peppermint oil spray in the engine bay and on the garage floor under the truck. It seems to be working so far.
I have two cats, but apparently they don't hunt.
 

DRVMN

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I had mice in my garage years ago. I filled a five-gallon bucket halfway full with water, sprinkled bird seed on top of the water. Put the bucket close to the workbench and the mice jumped into the bucket because they smelled the bird seed. Of course the mice did not read the sign that said "No Lifeguard on Duty" or forgot to wear their lifejackets. 13 mice after the first night, eight after the second night, no more after that. I keep some of those ultrasonic rodent plug-in devices in the garage and haven't had any issues in over 20 years.
 
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fORdEGON

fORdEGON

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Well I just used a bunch of snap traps around my vehicles and equipment at night with a bunch of kills. Moved everything around to a new area of the project site daily and brought in another operator so we could run round the clock. Nothing gets a guy more motivated to finish a project a week early like the constant threat of rats eating your new truck lol.As far as I can tell I escaped without damage.
 

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