Anyone have problems with mice (or any critters) while camping?

I recently moved up to Oregon and have been making good use of the amazing riding and camping areas they have out here. One thing that also changed is the amount of rodents I see/hear at night. I've caught them with my headlamp crawling on the frame, in the IFS skid and all over the ground. I could even hear them crawling up the RTT at night.

They don't really bother me and I do not want to harm them, after all I am in their hood. I wanted to know what areas I should protect? I've got a mesh screen over my AC inlet under the front cowl but there are a bunch of exposed wires under the hood. Do they chew on any wire or is there something special about certain wires/lines that attracts them? I'd love to hear your stories and suggestions on making sure they don't strand me in the middle of a forest.

 

I take my pet bobcat with me when I go camping.

Problem solved

 

Best thing to do is mix a little cayenne pepper with some water in a spray bottle. Spray the wire harnesses that are exposed under the hood and a wire mesh screen under your air filter and cowl area to block that entrance to your cabin air filter behind the glove box.
I am not sure if the wires on your gen truck, but the coating is soy based and nice love it.

 

Haha, I'm more of a canine person. I did bring my Malinois Shepherd with me but she was no help.

 

Rodent Chow give them something better to eat then wiring

Moth balls keep them out of my tool box

 

Thanks, that's a great idea. I've got so many wires running in tight spots that I'll also look into non-soy based covers to wrap them in.

 

When it comes time for anyone to do work on your truck, you need to inform them that that shit is under the hood (cayenne pepper)

 

Good to know. I have never worked with the stuff (in this way) but I'm looking for rodent repellant spray that is pet safe as well.

I don't know how I would get to some wires that are tucked away out of sight. Are rodent proof wire covers a thing? Didn't know about the soy but that makes sense now.

 

I pop the hood and hang a flash light from the hood latch. They dont like lit areas. I am paranoid that one will chew the knock sensor wire while I wm out in the middle of nowhere.

 

Only bigger critters. We heard something rustling around one night, shined the flashlight and saw the biggest skunk I’ve ever seen, maybe 20 feet from us. It must have been 30 lbs. We just shut off the light and wished it away.

My wife makes fun of me for this one. The raccoons kept coming around the campsite all night long. I yelled at them “I told you to get out of here!”

As for mice and such, I used to put mothballs in my old truck that set around a lot. It seemed to keep them away.

 

Haha, I can picture the situation. Did they understand you and leave you alone?

 

Nope!

 

I just looked under my hood and most of the wires have a cover over them except for at the ends. I don't want them chewing any wire but is there an area that gets chewed up more than others? I'm starting to get concerned enough to pull skid and inspect all the wires.

 

Rodent expert here: Mice and rats rely heavily on sense of smell to get what they want and to get to where they are going. Rats are basically almost blind and mice are not far from that. Thats why your local exterminator puts baits around the baseboards or support beams in your roof. Simply mix up some Pine Sol with water, or bleach with water or use peppermint oil (undiluted) Peppermint oil is $$$ however. If using the pine sol or bleach method, pour in a sprayer and spray around the area of the truck where you are parked. A perimeter close to the outline of your truck if you get what I mean. When they get a nose full of that they will turn away.

 

BTW, this works in your roof too if you get a critter up there. Heavily dilute a rag with unmixed pine sol or peppermint oil and toss it up in the attic and they will run like they have been shot at. Been there, done that. They found their way in and they'll go out the same way. In a hurry.

 

Thank you, this seems like the easiest method to try. No sense protecting the wires since they will eat through anything and I'm not too excited about covering everything from the engine back in cayenne pepper.

I was thinking of also trowing some moth balls in stockings for inside the engine bay and above the fuel tank while I'm parked. Any truth to these things working?

 

Dont dilute it with too much water though. It needs to burn your nose in order to burn theirs if you get my meaning.

 

If you want to use peppermint oil and don't want to pay out the wazzoo for it then buy some peppermints and put them in a pot of boiling water on the stove. Boil it down until the peppermints dissolve and bingo! You've got peppermint water.

 

We had this critter walk through camp a few weeks back



He was looking for our chili cheese dogs and beers though.

 

Bought a 2002 impala from a co worker, damn thing had 5 nests and no kidding 20lbs of rat droppings. Disgusting.