Pack rats built a nest, now my parking brake light is stuck on

[Mister]

It's been a couple weeks since I've used my tractor. Barn is getting built next year, so until then it's got a canvas waterproof tarp over it.

I was pretty puzzled when I removed the tarp today, and found all these branches and leaves that some sort of animal had put all over the deck. I removed them, and then decided to pop the hood and make sure all was well. I was pretty upset to find a giant pack rat sitting on top of the gas tank, staring up at me. I went to grab a stick to poke it off, and it retreated to the engine somewhere. Long story short, there were two pack rats in there, and they built a giant nest on top of the engine out of some sort of man made batting. I pulled it all out. Meanwhile, the largest of the two (seriously the size of a giant New York subway rat), darted down and inside the front wheel. My 3 large dogs hunted it and dragged it out by the tail and killed it.

I couldn't find the other one. Figured it got away, so I started the tractor up and let it idle with the hood up. After 5 minutes or so, I closed the hood and graded my roads. A few minutes in I could smell something burning, and then a rotten flesh smell. Stopped the tractor, and found that the fan chopped the other pack rat in half, and the other piece was cooking. Removed both pieces with a stick, and went about my work, but I noticed the parking brake light was stuck on. I tried applying it and disengaging it, turning off the tractor and back in, but the light still won't go out. Any ideas what I should check? No wiring anywhere appears to be chewed.

Also, any tips on keeping these and other rodents at bay? The tractor has been on my property in the forest for two years, and I've never had a problem before.

 

[Dave_eng]

It's been a couple weeks since I've used my tractor. Barn is getting built next year, so until then it's got a canvas waterproof tarp over it.

I was pretty puzzled when I removed the tarp today, and found all these branches and leaves that some sort of animal had put all over the deck. I removed them, and then decided to pop the hood and make sure all was well. I was pretty upset to find a giant pack rat sitting on top of the gas tank, staring up at me. I went to grab a stick to poke it off, and it retreated to the engine somewhere. Long story short, there were two pack rats in there, and they built a giant nest on top of the engine out of some sort of man made batting. I pulled it all out. Meanwhile, the largest of the two (seriously the size of a giant New York subway rat), darted down and inside the front wheel. My 3 large dogs hunted it and dragged it out by the tail and killed it.

I couldn't find the other one. Figured it got away, so I started the tractor up and let it idle with the hood up. After 5 minutes or so, I closed the hood and graded my roads. A few minutes in I could smell something burning, and then a rotten flesh smell. Stopped the tractor, and found that the fan chopped the other pack rat in half, and the other piece was cooking. Removed both pieces with a stick, and went about my work, but I noticed the parking brake light was stuck on. I tried applying it and disengaging it, turning off the tractor and back in, but the light still won't go out. Any ideas what I should check? No wiring anywhere appears to be chewed.

Also, any tips on keeping these and other rodents at bay? The tractor has been on my property in the forest for two years, and I've never had a problem before.

When you tarp something you create excellent habitat for various rodents.

If you do it in the bush even better because they are able to get to your tractor before a hawk or owl can see and catch them.

Squirrels like to build their nests against my tractor's turbo and I have had a couple of small fires because of this.

Now, during their nesting season, I park the tractor in the wide open spaces. Or in a secure shop.

With the tractor in a wide open space i have had no repeat of the nesting.

I have tried the home based solutions such a dryer sheets, moth balls..... No success!

I used to park my 16' boat in an open sided shed. The boat's top was up and an cover was on.

In 2014, when I took the boat out I found the interior destroyed by raccoons.

Since 2014, when I store the boat I leave it completely uncovered and any place of concealment wide open.

In the 6 years since, in the spring, my boat is dirty but no animal has chosen to make it a home.

For your parking brake light, you need to locate the switch and unplug the wires leading to it. If the light stays on then you know you have a wire shorting to ground or to another wire.

Or you may find a twig holding the switch plunger in the ON position.

Dave

 

[GEP]

I have that problem with field mice. I have several case large garden tractors the mice always nest on top of the hydraulic tank, there are wires to the ignition they always chew the insulation of the wiring. I started to put moth balls under the hood and around the tractors , that really helps but don't forget to check on the moth balls because they dissipate. All my tractors are in a large shed with good tight doors but the little buggers can find a way to get inside

 

[GeoHorn]

An outdoor cat is good for this problem.

 

[In Utopia]

Used to think they only existed in a saying until I found this mess in my shop one day. Couldn't believe all the stuff it managed to drag under my compressor.
It did have a happy ending though, got him the first night using peanut butter. Got a neighbor who can't get rid of them. He's got one that for some reason brings his "treasure" up onto his back porch right outside his door.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Used to think they only existed in a saying until I found this mess in my shop one day. Couldn't believe all the stuff it managed to drag under my compressor.
It did have a happy ending though, got him the first night using peanut butter. Got a neighbor who can't get rid of them. He's got one that for some reason brings his "treasure" up onto his back porch right outside his door. View attachment 45282 View attachment 45283

Mouse porn.....

Did you save it for dinner?

 

[D2Cat]

I have use an old sock filled with moth balls, tie off the end and put 3 or 4 on the tractor in various spots. On my Duetz there is a 2" space above the fuel tank and the dash. I attach a piece of baleing wire to the sock so I have a removal method when I reload with moth balls.

 

[Mister]

An outdoor cat is good for this problem.

This cat roams my property, but he's clearly slacking on the job

 

[Mister]

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. Sounds like I need to stop using the tarp, and start using mothballs on a sock in various places

 

[aaluck]

As stated earlier no cover. Had this problem with a golf cart. Found that if I kept the seat up when parked nothing wanted in.

Maybe keep the hood up.

 

[D2Cat]

I have my D2 parked under a leanto on the side of the barn. It's plenty deep and offers good protection. Some birds were coming in there and causing a mess. I took a couple of alum soda cans, punched a hole through each one, inserted a wire, then attached baling twine to hang from the 2x above so the wind would randomly blow them and make noise.

Might rig up something similar for your tractor. Figure out how to hang a wind chime on the exhaust stack or ROPS if the exhaust is horizontal. Mice won't like the rattling noise or random movement.

 

[GeoHorn]

If it’s mice then D-Con or TomKat will take care of them.

D2Cat.... I have a pontoon boat under a R-panel side-shed (pic taken while under-construction) and the Birds like to sit in the purlins and poop all over the boat. I bought some plastic spike-strips that are a perfect fit inside the purlins and that took care of that. They then chose to perch on the string-of-lights that run down the center-line of the shed. I bought another spiked-product which I wrapped around the light-string full-length and that took care of that. Wasn’t cheap... but sure worked. Here are links to the products:

Amazon.com

Amazon.com : Worthofbest Scat Mat, 8 Strips, Cat Dog Indoor Outdoor Repellent Deterrent with 8 Garden Staples and 6 Twists for Stopping Digging and Scratching, 5.2''x15.8'', Pack 8 : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Amazon.com : Worthofbest Scat Mat, 8 Strips, Cat Dog Indoor Outdoor Repellent Deterrent with 8 Garden Staples and 6 Twists for Stopping Digging and Scratching, 5.2''x15.8'', Pack 8 : Patio, Lawn & Garden

www.amazon.com