​Rodents are eating my tenants' car wires

[Account Closed]

I have a 3 bedroom farmhouse that sits on a half acre between a cow pasture and a woods. I bought it at auction a year ago and now have my second tenant family living in it.

The driveway is about 30 feet from a 4 acre woods (neighbor's property) and the tenants have problems with rodents eating their car wires and the insulation attached to the underside of the hood on both their vehicles. They have had vehicles disabled and had to take them in for service (a couple times with each vehicle).

I've used this site as a reference: https://www.howtopreventratsfromeatingcarwires.com..., recommended it to the tenants as a reference and also contacted an exterminator that I do business with that recommended the distribution of about ten bait stations around the area. So I put a dozen bait stations around the driveway and house.

I bought some fox urine for them to spread around cause they thought that would do the trick but I also made it clear that I've done pretty much everything I can and that I'm not responsible for their car wires.

My lease doesn't say the tenant is responsible for rodent control - I'll fix that with the next tenants.

They've paid rent on-time (been there 5 months so far), seem to be taking good care of the house, yard, landscaping, etc.

Yesterday when picking up the rent the husband showed me damage under the hoods of their cars and said that I should "do something and make it right".

I'm sure he expects me to discount the rent or something like that. I explained that I've talked to the neighbors on the street and to the prior tenants and no-one else has a problem with rodents eating their car wires (although none of their driveways are as close to the woods), how I felt that this is very unfortunate but that I don't know what else we could do. I offered that they could park on the lawn on the other side of the house but they don't want to do that as the lawn might get damaged. I recommended an outdoor cat but they already have an indoor cat, don't want more and there are already some neighborhood cats that roam around. I said that if it continues to be a problem that they might want to consider moving - not that I'm asking them to leave but because I don't have a solution to the problem.

Has anyone had issues with rodents that eat car wires?

What recommendations do you have?

I'm also concerned that the next tenant may have the same problem. 

Other ideas I can think of are; 

- perhaps an owl box 

- perhaps haul gravel for a driveway on the other side of the house

[Dave Albin]

Originally posted by @Account Closed:

I have a 3 bedroom farmhouse that sits on a half acre between a cow pasture and a woods. I bought it at auction a year ago and now have my second tenant family living in it.

The driveway is about 30 feet from a 4 acre woods (neighbor's property) and the tenants have problems with rodents eating their car wires and the insulation attached to the underside of the hood on both their vehicles. They have had vehicles disabled and had to take them in for service (a couple times with each vehicle).

I've used this site as a reference: https://www.howtopreventratsfromeatingcarwires.com..., recommended it to the tenants as a reference and also contacted an exterminator that I do business with that recommended the distribution of about ten bait stations around the area. So I put a dozen bait stations around the driveway and house.

I bought some fox urine for them to spread around cause they thought that would do the trick but I also made it clear that I've done pretty much everything I can and that I'm not responsible for their car wires.

My lease doesn't say the tenant is responsible for rodent control - I'll fix that with the next tenants.

They've paid rent on-time (been there 5 months so far), seem to be taking good care of the house, yard, landscaping, etc.

Yesterday when picking up the rent the husband showed me damage under the hoods of their cars and said that I should "do something and make it right".

I'm sure he expects me to discount the rent or something like that. I explained that I've talked to the neighbors on the street and to the prior tenants and no-one else has a problem with rodents eating their car wires (although none of their driveways are as close to the woods), how I felt that this is very unfortunate but that I don't know what else we could do. I offered that they could park on the lawn on the other side of the house but they don't want to do that as the lawn might get damaged. I recommended an outdoor cat but they already have an indoor cat, don't want more and there are already some neighborhood cats that roam around. I said that if it continues to be a problem that they might want to consider moving - not that I'm asking them to leave but because I don't have a solution to the problem.

Has anyone had issues with rodents that eat car wires?

What recommendations do you have?

I'm also concerned that the next tenant may have the same problem. 

Other ideas I can think of are; 

- perhaps an owl box 

- perhaps haul gravel for a driveway on the other side of the house

Hi Mark! I'm sorry to hear about your rodent situation with your tenants. I actually created https://www.howtopreventratsfromeatingcarwires.com and I appreciate you referencing my website as a resource. I launched the website after I had over $11k in damage done to both my cars last year due to rodent damage. I feel comfortable saying I have probably researched how to prevent rodent damage to cars more than anyone else on the planet and I know I can help your tenants.

The first plan of action for them is to leave their hood up at night. Rodents go into the engine compartment for 3 reasons: shelter, chewing on the wires, and food (I.e. soy based wiring). By leaving the hood up it takes away their shelter and eliminates the engine compartment as a potential place for nesting grounds. This single handedly is probably the most effective method of rodent deterrent for cars. 

Second, they should place snap traps at the base and tops is the tread of the front two tires (assuming the engine is in the front of their cars). This will block off the entrance to the rodents are using to get into the car. Rodents climb up the tread of the tires to get into the engine compartment. Here is a YouTube video that shows exactly how to place the traps: https://youtu.be/H3aOa0Pe8kA

Third, take a flashlight or a bright light and shine it under the car at night. Rodents always prefer to be in the shadows and this will force them to walk through a spot light if they want to get into the car (and they won't like it!).

Fourth, get some Rodent Defense and spray it on the inside of the engine compartment 2-3 times a week. This is an all natural spray with peppermint oil that will act to cover up their scent of urine. One of the main issues that has happened with your tenants cars is that the rodents have marked it as safe with their excitements. Other rodents will pick up on his scent and think the car is still a safe place to go hang out. So even though your tenants are getting their cars fixed, it still has that scent in it so the rodents will continue to frequent the car. 

As a long term solution for you I would certainly consider getting an owl Box. The only problem is that it can take some time  for owls to arrive. Once they are there, they will be super effective.

Please relate the information to your tentants I would be happy to answer any questions they specifically have and they can message me directly on here or through the contact page on the website (as it won't let me post my email address here!)

And if anyone else in this forum has any questions or needs help with similar issues please don't hesitate to let me know! 

Best Regards,

Dave