Been a while. Finally uploaded some pix.
So big issue for 2013 have been rats. Since Christmas, I've kept tally and trapped a total of 53 rats as of today. The car #3 took some wiring damage in 2012. But since I've been trapping and checking religiously 2x per week since the last Xmas, I've had no further damage.
I have 2 live traps and 16 snap traps active. House is surrounded by oaks, so constant supply of acorns. Have sheds, woodpiles and cars, so have cover. Have pond w/ running waterfalls, so constanct water. No wonder. And I forgot to mention my gardens.
Some interesting things learned...
Rats eat their own to get rid of the evidence. I trapped one during a particularly high activity rate next to a shed. The trap was pulled under the shed the the rat was half eaten. Cats/coons/skunks couldn't fit, so I know it was a rat. Looked it up and its common for them to eat their dead so preditors are not attracted to the area (as well as dead babies)
Set your traps as best as you can. I had a period of a few months w/ a lot of misfires on the snap traps. Then I wasn't getting any. I would watch in the early evening and the had created new runs to avoid my traps. So I used the pellet rifle that week and baited a new area and got them out w/ the pellet rifle. Since then, no issues w/ the trap effectiveness.
I do'nt like poisons. Heard of too many dead rats in walls.
When a trap is misfired. look around. I found 4 dead ones out of the 53 that were hit and got out. 2 were dead when I got to them, 2 others were sitting there stunned from head injury.
Change up your locations. They get use to traps in same area and avoid. I have traps all around my foundation and fence lines. They were going over the roof and through the trees to avoid them
So its not just temp/moisture/sun, I have to content rodents. a guy I just had some restoration conversation about had bug issues and got the plastic car capsules and loves them.
I won't dare put NOS parts on my car until I can confidently complete a proper storage location.
This is my preferred method. Stick corn on pan. I use peanut butter, but the ants get to it. I don't wash the traps. I throw them in the pond for 24hrs, then reset. But I'm carful to touch them very little.
Used glue traps when snaps were not getting attention. Inhumane, but will only use them if they learn to stay away from snaps
This is a shame. CRX #3 w 100k. Interrior is fine. they'd been having dinner here in 2012 unitl I got to them. Looks like injector wiring harness will need some tcl, but the rest if good. I've been told they dont like perfume, detergents, dryer bounce. I'm going to throw a box each of bounce in each car to see if that continues to keep them out. I've heard of mothballs and use of some herbs, but I can deal w/ the ordor of bounce.