Mechanic warns of rats nesting in vehicles in the Halifax area

Rodents like rats can wreak havoc on vehicles – chewing through wires and building nests under the hood.

Laurie’s Complete Automotive in Dartmouth, N.S., is a one-stop-shop for all types of car repairs, whether its brake problems, car battery replacement and oil changes. But a few common problems are caused by rats.

“They are really destructive, not only on the intercompartment but also in the wiring underneath the seats and stuff like that and if you have candy or anything like that, they go right for it,” says Laurie Barkhouse, Laurie’s Complete Automotive owner and operator.

Barkhouse has been in the car repair business for years; this is not a new problem for him. Sometimes it’s a cheap fix but other times it’s not.

“Some of them are very simple, they’re right there you can get at it quick and easy, but some of them, it just depends on where they start chewing and they can get right down into the computer area and it can be quite expensive,” says Barkhouse.

Barkhouse says this isn’t something they are called about daily but they get calls once or twice a month about it and it’s all year long.

“There’s not much they can do to avoid it really. Just some kind of a tone peeper you can buy but other than that, that’s about it,” says Barkhouse.

This is a problem that doesn’t surprise Jennifer Spears and Cynthia Fowler, who sees them all the time in Dartmouth.

“Extremely numerous, I see them going in and out of holes. through bushes, I see bunches of them like at least 100 running up over the hills behind the buildings that we are standing next to,” says Spears, a Dartmouth resident.

“Me and my son will be leaving to go to school, and we will be walking down our driveway, and he’ll see like rats that have been run over with their brains and insides spilled out all over the road,” says Fowler, who is also a Dartmouth resident.

Orkin Canada says it’s breeding season, so it’s the time when they’re looking for resources and shelter and people offer it in abundance around their homes.

“Around the home, you are looking for obvious signs of gnaw marks on maybe pipes and wires leading into a building and seals of windows and droppings are the two big ones you are looking for. And the same would happen for your vehicles to look under the hood, has anything been gnawed or chewed on and look for nesting material,” says Sean Rollo, Orkin Canada technical director.

Rollo says it’s important to be proactive, and it all starts with protecting your property.

“Any doors seals that are worn, especially around garages, they are going to get in, any wires that are leading into the building that aren’t well sealed are going to lead to the potential for them to get in and then look for food sources. Bird baths, are they close to the home. If you have pets, don’t leave a dish full of food outside,” says Rollo.

One point Rollo points out is that the longer a vehicle is parked without being driven, the lonelier rodents will nest in it.

“Ideally they reach out to a pest professional, the years’ experience and expertise is really valuable to get a gauge on what is going on with this situation and where it is located and what are the next steps to tackle the problem,” says Rollo.

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