Road Vehicles and Rats

Because of obvious reasons, road vehicles are often the most vulnerable ones when it comes to rat infestation. RVs are usually driven to woods, lakes and parks where they get to be parked for a couple of hours (some cars are even parked for days); these are not the cars that we see traversing on city streets on a daily basis, in fact, most RVs are only used during vacations and holidays -- during the other days, these vehicles are inside garages. These things make it easier for rats to get into the car and build their nests inside. Through their instinctive gnawing behaviour, they will be able to find a way to penetrate into the car. Once inside, there will most likely:

• chew on the cushions of the car seats
• gnaw the electrical wires inside the engine compartment of the car
• pee on the electronic components of the car
• damage the hoses that carry the fluids throughout the car's engine and cooling system
• build their nests under the car's hood, where the air filters are located
• use the insulation installed for the compartments under the hood as the bedding of their nest

Car owners should not, in a way, underestimate the capabilities of rats. Unlike humans, they do not require weeks to transfer residences; in fact, these rodents will be able to build a complete nest inside your car's engine compartments and move-in along with its family. Thus, leaving behind your car on the streets and in some other places where rats are most likely to be abundant is definitely one of the surest ways to invite rats in.

Common Signs of Rat Infestation in Cars

While some rats make their presence very obvious by running around (frightening the passengers and the driver) the car's floor, others are very good at making their presence covert. Sometimes, owners would only realize that an infestation is already taking place the moment one of the rats die and produce a very foul smell through. Thus, it is very helpful is the owner would find the time to inspect the compartments inside the car to make sure that it is rat-free. For example, he/she can check through the electrical wiring attached to the car's engine and see if there are any rat bite marks on them. The sooner that an infestation is discovered, the better it is for the car owner. Who knows, apart from the damages that they can make, they [rats] might also compromise the driver's life by nibbling through the wires and tubes necessary for braking.

Preventive Measures

Knowing that rat infestation in cars can be a little bit too costly when it comes to repairs; it is wise for car owners to simply do measures that will prevent an infestation in the very first place. The owners of the cars can be creative in their own ways as to how they are to go about the preventive measures, but to those who need a little inspiration, the tips below can help:

1. Do not park the car in places that can be penetrated by rats.
2. Leaving the car's hood up will discourage the rats from getting in. Contrary to what seems to be obvious (that when it is up, the more possibility it is for rats to get inside), rats do not like to be in open areas where they would feel insecure.
3. Keep the garage well-lighted. If you already understand how a rat's mind works, you will see that they do not like areas where their presence is "exposed".