[Rupert]

I got my Jeep out of the shop.....2nd time this year...this time it was in the Dealership for 6 weeks and 2 days. I admit I didn't push them to rush, hoping they wouldn't charge me a fortune if I was easy to deal with, and they did give me a fair price on the work, very fair.

The problem....damn squirrels ate up part of the wiring harness. When I got it back home on Wednesday afternoon, Otis had on a little waiters uniform and was hollering out "table for four just became available!"

I can't afford to do this all the time, and I can't possibly shoot every squirrel in the area. There is at least a million of them...and that's just the ones in Otis' Army.

Currently I am wiping down the wiring with peppermint oil and tying Bounce dryer sheets around some of the wires....I read this will keep squirrels away? Do you have any tried and true remedies for this situation? I don't want to end up out in the Woods of Otis on trial for murder, so leave that solution out, it's not an option for me.

Regards!

Welcome home...I've missed you!
[IMG] [/IMG]

Me too! Mrs Rupert's plants are tasty, but nothing like the flavor of genuine Jeep wiring!
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Regards!

[normhead]

Try a Toyota Land Cruiser.... I hear the wiring doesn't taste as good to American Squirrels.

[Venturi]

Amazon.com: Buck Predator Bomb Fox Urine: Sports & Outdoors

[p38arover]

I must admit he looks cute. But we don't have them in Australia and that's probably a good thing.

[thazooo]

1/4 inch chicken wire. Wrap where they ate it and other exposed harness. Tie it on with zip ties.

I talked with Marley the under the House Kitty, a Notorious Squirrel Slayer. He said he'd help. A bit steep, 1st Class Air both ways, 3 cans Tuna Daily, and he gets to eat all he kills

[Ratmagiclady]

Have you been hit again, Rupert, or just anticipating it? I like Venturi's idea for a start. You should also be able to buy some stuff that looks like a plastic version of that old metal cased electrical conduit stuff they don't use anymore: it comes pre-split and you can just fit it over your wiring, especially the thick parts where it's hard to see just what line was chewed on.

Here, like this kind of stuff: You want the kind that comes with a split in it, though:

http://www.rowe-electronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/288_Covering1.jpg

[wildman]

Let's Hear Your Solutions?

We had the same problem - they got into the heater system and screwed up the fan.

Don't part the car at the same place all the time. Move it around it confuses them. Break them of the habit of finding it at the same place all the time. They are creatures of habit. If you can park off your lot for a week or so if you can.

[Rupert]

Ratlady, that's the very stuff they ate right through and on into a 1" thick bundle of wires, severing every one. Right now the peppermint seems to be working, but it isn't nesting season, so I can't know for certain.
Otis is selling season tickets, so I have to be on guard for the next few months.

Wildman, I have little space, but I might give moving them around a shot and see if that helps. I'll try most anything!

Dana I might just borrow your Kitty! Old Mr Kitty kept the squirrels away pretty good, I kind of miss him!

P38 Otis has mentioned colonizing Australia, you better hope he doesn't!

Venturi... I have tried fox and coyote urine, the squirrels think it is a cologne and roll in it like a dog.

Regards!

[Ratmagiclady]

Well, I'd reallly suggest casing those fat parts of the wiring harness in something less edible-seeming, Rupert.

Also, you seem beset by 'devil squirrels,' might I suggest, er, Bodhisattva Squirrels:


https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/480774_615211918499481_1339199693_n.jpg

(Well, give em credit for trying. )

[cyclone3d]

I second the cat idea. Probably the cheapest and most sure fire way to keep those devil squirells away.

You could also use rat traps - the ones like giant mouse traps.

[stormtech]

We have small critter problems - mostly red squirrels. You can try lots of different things, and spend money and time trying, but the only real solution is a .22 rifle.

I can't afford to do this all the time, and I can't possibly shoot every squirrel in the area. There is at least a million of them...and that's just the ones in Otis' Army.

Sure you can - spend an hour or so plinking everyday - in about a week you'd be surprised.

[VoiceOfReason]

4019-2317 - Honda TAPE,RODENT 19MM 20M

It is impregnated with capsaicin.

[Lloydy]

Try a Toyota Land Cruiser.... I hear the wiring doesn't taste as good to American Squirrels.

A Landcruiser is a great alternative, but the bloody field mice got into mine and chewed the foam rubber insulation on the air con' pipes. Luckily I spotted the damage before they got to the wiring.
I spray WD40 on the foam and wiring when I think about it, and that seems to keep the blighters away. But my friend who lives on a farm and has had a lot of problems with mice eating his wiring uses an ultrasonic cat repellent device that he's attached to his car and is powered from the battery, it's always 'on' and uses so little power it doesn't drain the batteries ( another Landcruiser ) and works wherever he parks. He's used it for a few years and claims it works, who knows - squirrels might hate the sound as well ?

[Ratmagiclady]

A Landcruiser is a great alternative, but the bloody field mice got into mine and chewed the foam rubber insulation on the air con' pipes. Luckily I spotted the damage before they got to the wiring.
I spray WD40 on the foam and wiring when I think about it, and that seems to keep the blighters away. But my friend who lives on a farm and has had a lot of problems with mice eating his wiring uses an ultrasonic cat repellent device that he's attached to his car and is powered from the battery, it's always 'on' and uses so little power it doesn't drain the batteries ( another Landcruiser ) and works wherever he parks. He's used it for a few years and claims it works, who knows - squirrels might hate the sound as well ?

I would suggest using something other than WD40 in particular: it's a little corrosive of itself. (it has some ingredients intended to break down rust in particular. I don't know if it'll hurt wiring, but it may be problematic.

[stormtech]

Here's something else to think about Rupert......if you think getting your Jeep wired is expensive, you don't want to even think about how much it will cost with the Audi.