Critter chewing wires and hoses

[JerryH]

I've got a 1991 Toyota 4Runner that I have to park outside. A few weeks ago it didn't start. I looked under the hood and found the spark plug wires, vacuum hoses and other wiring had all been chewed through . I repaired the damage--but I didn't do anything to keep this from happening again--sure enough, yesterday the car didn't start--the wires and vacuum hoses are destroyed . It's likely a rabbit--they are everywhere! I'm in northern Colorado.

Do you guys have any ideas on how to keep this from happening again?

[bonsaiwino]

I'd set a 'Havaheart' baited trap, get the critter & relocate him far away.

[clbrenta]

Ask a farmer how to catch the rodent: carrot?
Many times, however, are the rats to do damage.
The rat poison should never be touched by hand. Pay close attention because otherwise mice realize it and do not eat the poison !!

[riverdadd]

power wash the engine bay to remove any attractants that they can smell and then put something that they don't like to smell like pepper spray or moth balls in a old sock........ or get a cat and keep it hungry...rodent problem becomes cat's solution

[spiderdan]

Critter Ridder.
"Effectively repels groundhogs, skunks, dogs, cats, squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks and other nuisance animals"
I got rid of muskrats under my dock with this stuff and it seemed to work at keeping mice out of the cottage.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016P ... 1_1&sr=8-1

[JerryH]

Well I went with the baited live trap. The trap has been under the hood 24hrs now--no critter yet. I want to catch the darned thing before I repair the tubes and wires again. I'll probably get some 'critter ridder' and use it once I've made the repairs.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll let you know how this turns out!

[JerryH]

I realized that I never followed up on this post...

I caught the culprit on October 5. It was a huge squirrel; the size of an adult house cat. I dropped him off in some farmland about 5 miles north of my home--I didn't want to see him again! I fixed the hoses and wires a second time and the 4 runner has been running fine since then!

[4uall]

I'LL FIND YOU !

[JerryH]

Jay! That's him!

[RRoller123]

Get a cat!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq9OiIZUuEM

[RRoller123]

Wait a minute, you are in Colorado! This is the culprit, with the munchies.

[JerryH]