Critters in my boat

[survivor]

Hey guys anybody have a solution to critters chewing on my wiring in my boat? All suggestions are really appreciated!!! HELP,
Thanks
Paul aka survivor

[BILLY]

What kind of critters? to keep mice out use "bounce" dryer things.
Also get some sperment oil and put a few drops on a cotten ball
and lay them in the rod lockers .

[Andy Giannini]

What kind? Is the boat outside? Find some chew marks, or poops to identify the pests. Need more info!

A.G.

[Hollywood]

Post pictures of the poops so we can see what the critter really is....

[survivor]

I'll take some poop shots tonight after work. The critter only chewed on a polypropelene box handle and some bites out of the on board charger plug wire, weird huh? So far some of the solutions included,
Spearment oil
Pepperment oil
Bounce dryer sheets
Moth balls,
may I'll make a concoction of all the above, hehehehe,
Really thought, thanks for all your suggestions.
Paul aka survivor

[Hollywood]

Yeah, diffently get them pictures ofthe poops up so we can all examine it!

[troutnut]

You live in Roseville? Probably rats. You need to trap those buggers. I saw on the news there is a big rats infestation in Natomas too. Last year it was in Roseville & Carmichael. Skippy Creamy on a snaptrap, sticky traps across the the carpet. They chew the wiring to use to build a nest.

[Wild Bill]

I have been a full time 'home handyman' for over twenty years, and some experience with 'problem animals' in many homes.

Have you SEEN any animals ?
Seen any feces of same?
Other than the wire chew marks, have you noticed anything else? Have you fully checked as much of the boat out that you possibly can for nests?

I have been told that many rodents, including squirrels, chew on rubber things like wire insulation etc, to wear their front teeth, as those front teeth grow constantly, and if they did nor wear their teeth down, thay would not be able to close thier mouths over long time.
I would doubt that the rubber being chewed is to build a nest, as almost all nests I have seen in that time are made usually of a mix of leaves, paper, fabrics, etc.
So far, I got no idea which animal you're dealing with, as many small rodent species chew wires.

Both red or grey squirrels do it, for examples. Moth balls are great deterrents of Squirrels in many locations, but a heavy application of moth balls to your boat will give it a 'unique' smell , for sure {LOL}.

There are several types of traps available for critters, depending upon size of animals involved. Be very careful if there are any children or pet animals in the area of the boat.

[Andy Giannini]

The solution isn't mothballs, you need to kill it, and remove the pest. Poison isn't a good option, because you don't want dead rodent stuck somewhere in the boat stinking up the craft. Glue traps are neat, unless the rodent pulls off or tips the glue trap over into carpet. A big rodent can do that. Victor works well, but there may be some bloodstains.

You need to target the turkey, and expand your kill zone to pick up others before they come to visit.

Consider habitat as well, is there a big woodpile or other cover near the boat? Might need to look around for other areas rodents are infesting nearby.

A.G.

[Ken C.]

From the description of it chewing on the plastic, it sounds to me like roof rats or norway rats. I found that common roof rats seem to like Berkeley Power Bait or Gulp! Worms.( ) Sticky traps won't hold them. Go for the Victor traps, and if you can find 'em get the ones with the big yellow "paddle" trigger. Then put the bait all the way back by the trip wire. That way they pretty much have to step on the paddle to get to the bait. We recently had some "professional" rats come into our house. Peanut butter got one. Power bait and/or dog or cat food kibbles got the rest. I had to actually go to the extent of painting the traps black and handling traps with vinyl gloves (to keep my scent off them) to get rid of them.

A.G.'s right - you've got to set traps out in a perimeter so they don't even get into the boat! Place them where your kids or pets aren't going to get them. You might also want to look into a cover that fits tight all the way around the hull to help keep any new ones out after you've killed off the one(s) you have.

[mpark]

Paul
Look at the droppings, 1/2 in. or so Rat, 1/8in mouse. This is an easy fix.
Andy is right, look for harborage areas where they come from.
As far as the boat, place cardboard down to protect the carpet. Use traps with peanut butter. Don't set the traps at first, just smear the trigger with the PB. After they accept it and before you set the trap. Tie a piece of yarn onto the trap trrigger and trim short. then put the PB on the trigger and yarn. This gives the PB texture and makes them bite. This doesn't miss.
If ya have any Q's shoot me an e-mail.
Mpark

[mark poulson]

Screw the traps to a larger piece of plywood as both a weight so they don't crawl off, and to keep the blood spread to a minimum.

[troutnut]

That plywood trick works good!

[Ken C.]

Oops, I forgot to mention ya gotta "feed" them first off the trap before you start arming it to snap-em! In my experience it helped to paint the entire trap flat black, and the plywood idea is good too.

[billbeau]

Do what I did when I discovered I had roof rats.

Go out and get the rat snap traps with the yellow paddle. Apply a small amount of peanut butter to the padle. Set the trap and it should catch them critters just fine.

You can purchase them at Lowes or Home Depot.

I nailed over thirty of the varmits. My next door neighbor went through a devorce and the wife left him. She was paying for the garbage removal. He decided he would store it in his garage till he could take it to the dump. We had a huge problem with roof rats due to that.

I still get one now and then.

[MIKE TREMONT]

I use Cats. I know how some of you all feel about them, but they work for me. Just got to keep them out of the boat!
My cats are pretty good too. I fing dead rats in the yard quite often.
Before we bought this house there were signs of a major infestation. I made sure to plug up every screen on the place. I used steel wool, they won't chew on that.
I also run my cord for charghing the batts up off the ground and use some industrial grade clips to pinch closed the opening on the cover.
So far so good.