Driven to Nest

Electric vehicle dealerships across the country are finding something unexpected under the hoods of their cars: rodent nests. As vehicles sit idle on lots, engine bays are becoming attractive shelters for rodents looking for a quiet place to nest.

“A stationary vehicle is a perfect location for rodents because they do not like to be disturbed and there’s protection from the elements,” said Greg Pettis, vice president of business development at Nature-Cide and owner of Dominion Pest Control in Lancaster County, Pa. “Plus, natural predators cannot access them inside the engine compartment.”

Pettis said rodents are drawn to the engine bays of parked vehicles because they’re undisturbed and enclosed, which offers protection.

There’s also been speculation about whether the materials used in vehicle wiring are attracting rodents. Over the past five years, much attention has been given to the idea that a shift by automakers toward bio-based wiring (e.g., soy and other plant-derived materials) has led to an uptick in rodent damage. However, as noted in the Dr. Bobby Corrigan-authored Rats & Mice chapter in the soon-to-be-published Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, 11th edition, rodents have been chewing on wires and cables for more than a century, long before these materials were introduced; whether bio-based insulation is causing a true increase in rodent-related vehicle damage would require empirical research.

Corrigan wrote that it’s also possible that rising urban rodent populations, especially in dense areas, may be contributing more to the trend than the wiring itself.

Regardless of what may be attracting them to engine bays, once rodents settle in, they can cause significant damage by chewing wires, building nests and leaving behind contamination. For dealerships with dozens, or even hundreds, of parked vehicles, that can add up to expensive repairs and frustrated customers.

A NATURAL APPROACH.

To combat the problem, some pest control professionals are turning to a variety of strategies, one of which includes the use of Nature-Cide Rat & Mouse Repellent pouches. The sachets are infused with botanical essential oils and are marketed as a deterrent for rodents in both commercial and residential spaces.

The pouches emit a scent that’s pleasant to people but repelling to rodents, Pettis said. They are designed to cover up to 50 square feet for up to 60 days.

“It produces what we refer to as sensory overload; (rodents) cannot detect food sources or natural predators,” Pettis said. “It jams their primary sense, which in the case of rodents is their smell. They won’t be able to smell anything they need for survival.”

Pettis said the pouches help reduce damage caused by foraging and nesting. Because they are designed to last two months, pest control companies can schedule return visits for inspections and replacement, without the need for emergency callbacks, he said.

“For the customer, that equals peace of mind, and for [pest control businesses], that equals recurring revenue because we can inspect additional areas when we replace the pouches,” Pettis said.

BROAD APPLICATIONS.

Though they’re being used at electric vehicle dealerships, the repellent pouches aren’t limited to the automotive industry, Pettis said. Pest control companies have used them in residential attics, basements and garages, as well as in shipping containers, storage sheds, barns, boats and recreational vehicles, he said.

They’re also being used in commercial settings such as retail and food service facilities, hospitals, schools, warehouses, and agricultural businesses, Pettis said.

The product is labeled for use both indoors and outdoors and is one of several options professionals use to manage rodent activity.

IN THE FIELD.

One company using the pouches is Griffin Pest Management in Surprise, Ariz. The company has provided pest control services to commercial and residential clients for 17 years, and its owner, Jeffrey Griffin, has more than two decades of industry experience.

Griffin first encountered the repellent pouches at a trade show where Nature-Cide was featured as a natural pest control alternative. About a month later, a local dealership contacted his company after finding signs of rodent activity, chewed wires and nesting under the hoods of several electric vehicles.

“We used the pouches and they worked so well at repelling the rodents at the car dealership that we started using them at other customer sites,” Griffin said.

Griffin said they’ve since deployed the pouches in homes where rodents avoided traps and even used them in a unique situation involving a protected species.

“In Arizona, it’s illegal to harm or kill a bat, so we put the pouches there, and the bat is gone and hasn’t come back,” he said.

He also noted that customers who are concerned about chemical exposure or prefer eco-conscious products have responded positively.

“Some people are worried about pesticide [exposure], but with this, it’s all natural,” Griffin said. “They really love that. It could be a game-changer once it becomes readily available.”

So far, Griffin Pest Management has used the pouches for about 15 clients. While Griffin acknowledges that some people may be skeptical, he says results speak for themselves. “The proof is in the application and results,” he said.

The author is PCT contributing writer.