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Howdy all,
After on & off reading the past couple years I've really enjoyed learning a tremendous amount from some fantastic people. I'm finally getting around to posting a request for your thoughts and ideas.
I live in the great Northwest in a suburb of Seattle and have forested greenbelts on two sides of the property so we have a lot of wildlife.
The issue I have is that I park my 1998 Chevy W/T 1500 pickup in the grass most of the year. Had the truck for 15 years and it's now become the backup vehicle, dump runner, furniture mover, and whatever the full 8' box can or needs to haul. It sits for weeks at a time especially in the winter, I try to start and run it every so often. The problem is mice, (don't think any rats yet), getting into the engine compartment and nesting. So far they haven't gotten into the cab or chewed any wiring that I'm aware of.
-Funny story is that tried to start my riding mower last year that I left under cover with a full tank of fuel -w-fuel stabliser. Couldn't get it to start 'cept with ether but then wouldn't stay running. Finally looked at the fuel tank and it's empty - WTF! The little b*sta*rds chewed through the fuel line, I only hope they choked when it came gushing out.
So, finally to my question: What ideas do you have to keep mice off or out of the truck? I assume they are climbing up the tires and getting into the engine comparment.
Don't want to use poison because of dog and cats, have set traps and caught some but not all. Thought about parking on some sheet metal squares under the tires but don't believe that will stop them.
Thanks for considering my question.
Pete
After on & off reading the past couple years I've really enjoyed learning a tremendous amount from some fantastic people. I'm finally getting around to posting a request for your thoughts and ideas.
I live in the great Northwest in a suburb of Seattle and have forested greenbelts on two sides of the property so we have a lot of wildlife.
The issue I have is that I park my 1998 Chevy W/T 1500 pickup in the grass most of the year. Had the truck for 15 years and it's now become the backup vehicle, dump runner, furniture mover, and whatever the full 8' box can or needs to haul. It sits for weeks at a time especially in the winter, I try to start and run it every so often. The problem is mice, (don't think any rats yet), getting into the engine compartment and nesting. So far they haven't gotten into the cab or chewed any wiring that I'm aware of.
-Funny story is that tried to start my riding mower last year that I left under cover with a full tank of fuel -w-fuel stabliser. Couldn't get it to start 'cept with ether but then wouldn't stay running. Finally looked at the fuel tank and it's empty - WTF! The little b*sta*rds chewed through the fuel line, I only hope they choked when it came gushing out.
So, finally to my question: What ideas do you have to keep mice off or out of the truck? I assume they are climbing up the tires and getting into the engine comparment.
Don't want to use poison because of dog and cats, have set traps and caught some but not all. Thought about parking on some sheet metal squares under the tires but don't believe that will stop them.
Thanks for considering my question.
Pete
