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Keep Critters from Taking up Residence in Your Vehicle’s Engine

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Rats, kittens, mice, and other critters really have no manners, boundaries, or understanding of other’s property. They go where they want and need to in search of food, warmth, and shelter, and sometimes they are so blinded by these needs, they don’t stop to consider the level of danger associated with their new digs, namely your vehicle’s engine.

Since critters are traditionally unwelcome and destructive guests, you need to take steps to make it very clear that your engine is a no vacancy zone.

When possible and practical leave your hood up, secure your pet’s food away from your vehicle, and trim landscaping around your car and garage, which is the perfect place for rats to hide, advises AxleAddict.com writer Rochelle Frank.

“Some car owners place traps around the vehicle or on top of the wheels, since rats climb wheels to get into the engine. Some block engine openings with wire screen,” according to Frank.

Electronic deterrent devices can be a sensible investment to discourage rats. According to Frank, ultrasound bothers rats, although eventually the rats seem to tolerate it.

“Strobe lights like Mouse Blocker or Rid-a-Rat may work for longer periods, as they disrupt the darkness that rats prefer,” she notes.

Certain smells will deter rats, explains Frank, who also mentions that some drivers have peppered their engine and its access points with scents such as used cat litter, dog hair, Pine-Sol, red pepper, laundry dryer sheets, peppermint oil, cat hair, or powdered fox urine.

If your attempts to discourage critters, especially rats, have failed, you’ll have to remove your party crashers.

“The old-fashioned snap traps still work,” says Frank. “Glue traps work too but may torture the rat. Humane cage traps may work, but relocating the varmints can be a problem. Toxic baits do kill rats eventually, but are likely to also poison predators, including domestic animals.”

Frank recommends implementing several of these defensive tips to avoid the damage that critters can cause to your vehicle’s engine.

News Source: Axle Addict