Wood rat try to destroy your Toyota

For any Tacoma World members watch out for wood rats. They can and will destroy your wiring and anything they can chew in one night. I live in the very northeastern part of California and we to be vigilant about these rats. I set a rat trap under my hood and zip tie it in for this very reason. I catch about eight of these rats a year during spring and summer.

 

What is northeastern CA to you? Sonoma county?

Nice catch.

 

I am having a similar problem with the trailer wiring for my Subaru and trailer. Looks like it is time for some more traps.

 

I had something -- probably a chipmunk -- eat the wires leading to a knock sensor deep in my V6. $3200 bill from toyota to fix it as they had to basically tear the top end off the engine to get to it. Fortunately my homeowner's insurance covered it; i was only out my deductible.

 

The bucket trap with water is a good solution for garages, sheds, barns, crawl spaces, etc.

 

what is the "bucket trap with water"?

 

That's sure not how to get ahead in life

 

I think those wood rats would just jump out...need a 55 gallon model

 

FWIW, peppermint oil work well as a deterrent. I use it around my property. Idiot neighbor leaves his dog food out and the rats creep along the fence line to get to the bowl. I soak a couple cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them along the top of the fence where they walk and you can see them do an about-face and scurry away. Sometimes it catches them off guard and they fall off the fence for my pup to play with. After about a week, they get it and no longer use that route.

Use the same idea and place a couple near the fuse block and firewall to keep them away. Oil lasts about a month or so, but get stronger when the truck warms up.

 

wonder if that would work for skunks?

 

Not sure. We get some skunks around here but not enough where it's a problem. Mountain area so we get rats, raccoons, possums, owls, coyotes, occasional mountain lion sighting but extremely rare. Rats and possums are the annoying ones. The other critters come and go usually without incident.

 

It's that antifreeze? One of the more slow and painful ways to kill them.

 

No idea, looks like it though. Google image.

 

I have usually just used water. Swim until they drown

 

I thought that in California you guys were only allowed to use a "live animal trap"... you know, like "catch and release".

 

I leave my hood open on sunny days & put a mouse trap in, when it rains.

 

Yuck, I hate rats. I fluid film the entire underside of mine.....so far no critters.

 

As far as the "California Guys" go live traps are not an issue with rats. Trappers have to use live traps for some animals and no leg traps. Kind of hard to put a live trap under your hood. Rats are smart. Tried before in my barn does not work. A dead rat is a good rat. No ill will intended withy reply. Thanks for everyones input. All you members a good people.

 

As far as the "California Guys" go live traps are not an issue with rats. Trappers have to use live traps for some animals and no leg traps. Kind of hard to put a live trap under your hood. Rats are smart. Tried before in my barn does not work. A dead rat is a good rat. No ill will intended withy reply. Thanks for everyones input. All you members a good people.