Rodent Nest Under Engine Cover - Fire Risk?

[loneryder]

Do you prefer a particular brand/type of poison?

It's Tomcat Mouse bait. Works for chipmunks and ground hogs also.

 

[loneryder]

Bad for Owls and Hawks and Eagles you goof!

Just say NO

Not if you put them whee they can't get to them. They are grain based.

 

[loneryder]

There's a cat bylaw here, which has resulted in less risk to birds, but also an abundance of squirrels and rabbits.

What is the cat bylaw? There is an old law still on the books in Virginia that you can't tie up or restrain a cat's freedom to move around. It had to do with controlling the plague.

 

[Number_35]

What is the cat bylaw? There is an old law still on the books in Virginia that you can't tie up or restrain a cat's freedom to move around. It had to do with controlling the plague.

Basically, all cats are to be licenced and kept indoors, unless restrained (i.e. on a leash, or caged). Good luck with the leash part.

So, our barn cats from the farm have been indoor cats since we took them in nine years ago. They sit on the back of the couch, and their tails twitch aggressively as they stare at the plump squirrels in the trees outside.

 

[Exhaustgases]

Yes there is sometimes glass insulation they use, but paper is their preferred nesting material, they tear it up very well. Chewing wires, and have had them chew on Vee belts as well, maybe its just the cheap ones though?

 

[NibbanaBanana]

I keep a block of muse bait/poison on top of my battery on my 01 F150. Had nests and even a flattened dehydrated rat under the engine cover. Also they chewed holes in the hood insulation and filled it up with acorns. No problems since I started leaving the bait under there.

The rodents don't die immediately. They leave the nest, start slowing down and are easy pray for raptors. poison is a major killer of birds of pray. And pets for that matter. That stuff should be illegal.

 

[goofy]

They leave the nest

I wish they would leave the nest, and take their bubo fleas with them!

 

[ARCOgraphite]

post deleted

 

[3GTL300k]

The rodents don't die immediately. They leave the nest, start slowing down and are easy pray for raptors. poison is a major killer of birds of pray. And pets for that matter. That stuff should be illegal.

https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/owls-lincoln-park-cause-death

I always post this as an example of why I hate poison. It ends up killing predators like this that would help control the rodent population.

 

[Donald]

A few days ago I replaced a rear shock mount on an old Mazda5 for an elderly friend.

Afterwards I gave the car a general look over - checked the oil and other fluids, aired up the tires, etc.

I pulled the plastic engine cover, and was surprised to find a rodent nest on top of the engine.

View attachment 300406

I removed most of it by hand, and finished up with a shop vac. There was no evidence of mice or squirrels (the most likely culprits here). I figure most of the material is the sound-deadening insulation that used to be attached to the bottom of the engine cover.

Idle curiousity - did this material pose a fire risk?

I would have expected it to be smoking when the engine was turned off. Not good.

 

[Fabulous50s]

I remove every numb piece of plastic cover and under-hood insulation from every vehicle ive ever owned. -40F in the winter and ive seen plenty of rodents ruin wire harnesses etc.

Don't give them a place and building materials.

 

[Number_35]

I remove every numb piece of plastic cover and under-hood insulation from every vehicle ive ever owned. -40F in the winter and ive seen plenty of rodents ruin wire harnesses etc.

Don't give them a place and building materials.

Thanks, I will remove the engine cover from the Mazda5 in the family (and will recommend that the owner of the Mazda5 where I found the nest do likewise).

My wife's and my Grand Caravan doesn't have one (and never did), and the one on Jr's Kia van was missing when we bought it.

 

[Marcozi]

Get a cat.

 

[Fabulous50s]

Remove as many opportunities you can.

 

[Number_35]

I dropped by the owner's place today and (with his permission) removed the engine cover.

 

[Astro14]

A few days ago I replaced a rear shock mount on an old Mazda5 for an elderly friend.

Afterwards I gave the car a general look over - checked the oil and other fluids, aired up the tires, etc.

I pulled the plastic engine cover, and was surprised to find a rodent nest on top of the engine.

View attachment 300406

I removed most of it by hand, and finished up with a shop vac. There was no evidence of mice or squirrels (the most likely culprits here). I figure most of the material is the sound-deadening insulation that used to be attached to the bottom of the engine cover.

Idle curiousity - did this material pose a fire risk?

Absolutely it did.

 

[Number_35]

View attachment 300929View attachment 300930

Remove as many opportunities you can.

Which vehicle is that? Japanese-looking 4-banger. Beyond that, I'm guessing.

 

[Fabulous50s]

2013 Toyota Venza

 

[Number_35]

2013 Toyota Venza

2.7?

 

[Fabulous50s]

Yes