If given the chance to freely spend between $2,500 and $5,000 any way you chose, how would you spend it? Would you take a family vacation, tour the wine country, hit the mall for a shopping spree, redecorate a room in your home, or perhaps hit the lavish Scottsdale resort spas for a weekend? Each of these ideas sound like great ways to blow some extra cash on fun things. Instead, imagine having to spend at least that same amount on repairing rodent damage to your car, SUV, or truck. This is a serious, no laughing matter! The wire harness alone for a Ford or GM car can run about $1,500. Labor to remove the ruined wires and install new wiring can run into the thousands of dollars to fix.

Throughout Northern Arizona, as well as in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and Tucson, rodents have been damaging the wiring within the engine compartment of vehicles. This may sound unbelievable to those who have not had the misfortune of having to replace an entire engine wire harness in their car, truck, or SUV. For those who have had the horrible experience, its clearly no way they would want to direct their hard-earned cash, especially in this current economy.

Why Would Rodents Chew On My Car?

Rodents, which are mostly nocturnal creatures with the exception of squirrels, will all find shelter to hide from both the elements and their natural predators. A vehicle has many nooks and crannies for Arizona’s roof rats, mice, and especially the highly destructive packrat to hide. The interior and passenger compartments are not what lure the rodents in. Instead, it is the engine compartment, which may afford warmth if the vehicle was recently driven and then parked, or the many wires, which are insulated with a substance that attracts many rats to chew.

The annoying creatures will also chew their way through the fibrous firewalls near wheel wells and the front passenger compartment. Rats seem especially interested in chewing on rubber parts and water tubing. Once they have begun chewing and gnawing, it’s just a matter of time before they cause serious and costly damage.

How Do I Prevent Rodents From Damaging My Vehicle:

First and foremost, it’s never a good idea to leave food or trash inside a vehicle. All rodents have a very keen sense of smell and could be attracted to food remnants if they are left in your car, truck, or SUV. Second, if you are aware of any rodents in your neighborhood or if you have had signs of packrats, roof rats, mice, squirrels, skunks, or other common Arizona pests, it is crucial that those rodents be trapped and removed by a professional licensed wildlife and pest management company in your area. With trapping, if a rodent is present, there are often many more where that rodent came from. This is why a rodent bait program is essential to prevent your vehicle from being damaged by a pesky creature. Baiting will help to eliminate unwanted packrats, roof rats, mice, gophers, and even squirrels. The bait should be delivered and monitored a reputable pest and rodent control company to ensure that it’s done correctly and that the bait is checked on a regular basis. This prevents bait from non-targeted animals from being affected. The professionals at Rodent Proof LLC™ have had tremendous success in ridding unwanted rodents from vehicles, homes, and commercial properties.

Don’t allow your vehicle to fall pray to highly destructive Arizona rodents. Spend your money wisely and make sure your home and vehicles are protected from a rodent infestation.