Rats! (Part 1)

Varmints Like To Dwell Under Our Hoods

Posted February 27 2009 01:30 PM by Mike McGlothlin
Filed under: Diesel Engines, Funny Stories

There are certain things in life that we just can’t control, especially if our vehicles aren't garage-kept. Here is one example, and I’ll offer a possible solution next week…

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One thing that I’ve never had the displeasure of dealing with is a rat, mouse, bird, or anything else trying to stow away and survive under the hood of my truck, although I do admire witty ferrets. However, a neighbor of mine discovered that a family of mice had been feasting on the under-hood wiring on his Power Stroke, causing him more headaches than he could've ever imagined.

On Wednesday I was at Diesel Tech’s shop, and they showed me this intake boot, with a good size chunk of plastic missing (arrow in photo). Apparently, a truck that had been sitting for a while became a permanent residence for a rat seeking shelter and a bite to eat. I wonder if the rodent liked the taste of intake? But, we may never know, as the culprit got away scott free.

How about it? Ever had an undesirable creature seek out a comfy place under your hood, whether it be for shelter, warmth, or a snack?

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Reader Comments:

1. Some type of varmint ate my snowmobile out from under me. Literally, they loved the foam in the seat. I found nests in the intake and under the aluminum engine plate. Mothballs are a good idea if your are going to store your vehicle a long time.

jason.thompson - Posted February 27 2009 01:41 PM

2. Or hire a cat.

jason.thompson - Posted February 27 2009 01:41 PM

3. Awhile back a bunch of mice decided my house was a nice place to live. They didnt do any damage to my vehicles that I know of, but it did see them in my garage more than I would have liked too and found a nest under my tractors hood(it sits all winter). My dog didnt do a damn thing about it, he'd just what them as they ran by. A little while latter I rescued a cat I found crying in my bushes. After he entered the house I never saw any nice again. He did try to bring chipmunks, moles, birds and voles that he caught into the house on more than one occation...

SmokenGun - Posted February 27 2009 04:43 PM

4. Nice, a "working cat." That would be the only way I could stomach having a feline.

Mike McGlothlin - Posted February 27 2009 04:55 PM

5. I never had a cat before this one. The cool thing was since I never had a cat before I treated him kinda like a dog, so he would actually come when I called him or if i patted my leg. Even when he was outside he come back to the house when I called him like a dog. He was a big ass cat too, like 17-18 pounds of muscle.

SmokenGun - Posted February 28 2009 04:11 PM

6. when i was in high school our AG teachers ram 3500 didnt have a sinle knob on the dash that worked thanks to some rats.

backwoodsboy916 - Posted March 2 2009 09:50 PM

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