Rodent Damage Prevention

Rodents are often attracted to the insulation that protects vehicle wiring. Rodents chewing on vehicle wiring is more common than most people think. Rodent damage can create expensive, unscheduled repairs and downtime.

The problem is only getting worse. According to a recent study published in the journal Science, 69% of cities studied, including Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New York City, Oakland, Buffalo, Chicago, Boston, Kansas City, and Cincinnati, had significant increases in rat populations in the period studied. Warmer temperatures extending breeding seasons and growing populations in cities are just two of the factors contributing to more rats, and more rodent problems for fleet managers. Here are tips about how fleet operators can prevent rodent damage.

• Regularly inspect and clean vehicles to remove food and attractants that lure rodents.
• Use physical barriers such as sealed vehicle covers to prevent rodents from accessing wiring and engine compartments. A weighted vehicle cover, like CoverSeal completely covers a vehicle and has a weighted ring sewn into the base of the cover that encircles the car or truck and seals to the ground.
• Avoid relying solely on traps, bait, or scent deterrents, as rodents can adapt or be attracted to carcasses and bait residues.
• Maintain a clean parking lot environment by removing trash and avoiding landscaping that attracts rodents, like fruit or nut trees.
• Park vehicles at least 50 yards away from garbage cans. When vehicles are returned to the storage lot at the end of a shift or end of the day, they should be checked for food and wrappers.
• Move vehicles routinely. While not a fool-proof way to keep rodents from invading a vehicle, regularly moving vehicles or running them for a few minutes (avoid allowing the engine to get warm) can disturb rodents and force them to find a quieter, less mobile place to nest.

This is a summary of an article featured in Fleet Maintenance Magazine: Fleet prevention strategies to prevent rat infestations | Fleet Maintenance