Squirrels eating engine wires and hoses

[Sherman A1]

Help!

My wife's Nissan Rogue has been recently attacked by a squirrel (we think) building a nest in the engine compartment. So far we are out $2200.00 and more to come today after the second round last night.

I sprayed an animal repellant called Bobbex-R on the engine last night, but this morning there was another batch of leaves on top of the engine, wires chewed, check engine light on and hose to windshield washer reservoir detached.

Any thoughts would be very much appreciated as I can't do $2K per day in repairs.

[hlthe2b]

1. I heard a piece on NPR that there is reason to believe that soy-based insulation is the culprit

and attracting rodents (especially). They suggest for mice/rats, snaptraps (I can't do that) in front of the wheels when parked to prevent them running up the treads to get into the engine and keeping the hood open to deter nesting.

Some deny the soy-connection, but I think it makes sense.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a21933466/does-your-car-have-wiring-that-rodents-think-is-tasty/

[Sherman A1]

2. Thanks for the ideas

We will have to take a look at giving those a try.

[notinkansas]

3. Same thing happened to 2 cars parked in our driveway.

The auto repair people said the same thing about soy hoses/wires or whatever.

And, yes!, repairs are really expensive.

[CanonRay]

4. I had pack rats do that to my truck.

[Freddie]

5. Woodchucks (ground hogs) wrecked a friends' car

Chewed through the hoses.

[customerserviceguy]

7. And then they chucked his wood. n/t

[Bayard]

6. Go online

And look for products that contain predator urine (coyote is the most popular). They don't stink to humans. Sprinkle around your car.

Do you have dogs?

[customerserviceguy]

8. At this point

I'd seriously consider a garage, or getting another car that the wires are not considered tasty.

[in2herbs]

9. The pack rats do this around here. We pop open the hood of the car all the way every time we

aren't using it -- even when it's in the garage cuz rats don't like to be in places where there's more than one ingress/egress. Some people also hang a yellow bug light under the hood.

I know people who use moth balls in the engine compartment with some success and there's also a sonar buster you can buy at the store that they don't like.

Check out the property for any nests or holes where they could be living. I have poured muriatic acid (pool acid) down holes and then covered back the hole with dirt.

Or, try a feral cat.

[Wellstone ruled]

10. Yes these little buggers

love both the newer soy based shielding as well the older neoprene covering. Gophers and Red Squires become addicted to these coverings. We used Cayenne pepper spay we found at our Plant Store. Little buggers used to chew the Propane Gas Lines on our R/V years ago,and this pepper spray worked.

[littlemissmartypants]

11. I recommend spices.

Red pepper and black pepper liberally sprinkled on and near the problem areas. You can get large quantities of the spices at Costco or Sam's Club as you will have to repeat the remedy after the car is taken out for a drive.

[Kali]

12. death, repellants and other gimicks DO NOT WORK

you can catch them in a haveaheart type trap, but you will have to do the hard part. releasing even miles away will not work.