Pack Rats in Your Engine Bay: How Prescott Drivers Can Protect Their Cars

If your car won’t start one morning, or a warning light comes on out of nowhere, a pack rat may be the reason. Around Prescott, pack rats regularly move into engine bays and chew through wiring and hoses. Here’s how to spot the problem early and keep it from happening again.

What are pack rats?

Pack rats, also called woodrats, are native to the pine, grassland and chaparral country around Prescott. According to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, three species live in central Arizona: the white-throated, Mexican and Stephens’ woodrat.

They are bigger than mice and look different from the rats most people picture. Look for a furry tail rather than a bare, scaly one, a whitish belly and feet, and large eyes and ears. They are active at night, and they have a habit of collecting sticks, cactus pieces and shiny objects, which is why they are sometimes called trade rats.

Why pack rats move into cars

An engine bay is warm, dry and sheltered, which makes it a good place to build a nest. Cars that sit parked for days at a time, especially near brush, woodpiles or open land, are the most likely targets.

Rodents also chew constantly to keep their teeth worn down. The plastic and vinyl insulation on wires and the rubber in hoses are easy things to chew, and that is where the expensive damage comes from.

Signs a pack rat has been in your car

• Sticks, leaves, grass or cactus pieces on top of the engine or in the air filter box
• Droppings or a strong urine smell under the hood
• Chewed wires, hoses or hood insulation
• Warning lights, electrical problems or a car that suddenly won’t start
• A musty smell coming from the vents
• A nest of debris under the car or close to where you park

What to do if you find damage or a nest

• If wiring or hoses are chewed, have a mechanic check the vehicle before you drive it.
• Wear gloves. Pack rat nests contain droppings and urine, so treat the material like any other rodent mess.
• Don’t blow the nest out with compressed air or a leaf blower, and don’t sweep it up dry. Soak it with disinfectant first, then bag it. Our guide to cleaning up rodent droppings safely walks through the steps.
• Remove the whole nest. Pack rats reuse good nest sites, and leftover material draws them back.

How to keep pack rats out of your car

• Park in a closed garage if you can, and make sure the garage itself is sealed. Worn door seals and gaps at the bottom corners are common ways in. Rodent exclusion closes those gaps.
• Clear brush, woodpiles and stored clutter away from where you park. They give pack rats cover right next to your car.
• Don’t store pet food, bird seed or grain in the garage unless it is in a sealed metal container.
• Drive vehicles regularly. Cars, trailers and equipment that sit for weeks are the ones pack rats settle into.
• Pop the hood and take a quick look every week or so, especially in fall and winter.

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension notes that trapping on its own is not a long-term fix. Removing nests, sealing buildings and changing what attracts pack rats is what keeps them from coming back.

When to call a professional

If you keep finding nests, if damage keeps coming back, or if pack rats have moved into your garage, attic or crawl space, it is time to deal with the source. Our pack rat removal service clears nests, removes the animals and seals the places they are getting in.