rebeccmeister: (Default)
[personal profile] rebeccmeister
We think we may have identified the initial problem.

https://flic.kr/p/2q6QUSg

Pack rats!

Also now an action plan. My aunt has a longtime auto mechanic 1 mile from here who opens up at 7:30 am tomorrow. I’d best get this inspected because pack rats chew wires. And while I am there, deal with a couple other things as well (due for an oil change + S was suggesting a brake check).

It is a good time to not be in any kind of hurry. Thankfully, I’m not. I have also now moved the car into the garage and am leaving the hood open, just to be on the safe side!

Date: 2024-07-28 05:58 pm (UTC)
twoeleven: Hans Zarkov from Flash Gordon (Default)
From: [personal profile] twoeleven
Well! I've never before seen anybody complain about literal pack rats, as opposed to all of us with more stuff than organized storage space.

Date: 2024-07-28 06:55 pm (UTC)
twoeleven: Hans Zarkov from Flash Gordon (Default)
From: [personal profile] twoeleven
I see you have not lived in the desert before!

The closest I come to living in the desert is a total of two weeks in Death Valley. Death Valley may be dry enough to dissuade even packrats.

Date: 2024-07-28 06:34 pm (UTC)
bluepapercup: (Default)
From: [personal profile] bluepapercup
oh my goodness! so many seed pods!! once it's all cleaned out they should be able to take a look at everything.

Date: 2024-07-28 08:37 pm (UTC)
myka: (Default)
From: [personal profile] myka
?????

I didn't realize pack rats are actual rodents :-o

Date: 2024-07-28 09:09 pm (UTC)
ranunculus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] ranunculus
Pack rats are the cute version of rats. They are incredibly industrious. We humans would do well to remember that -we- have invaded -their- homeland and they are not responsible if the packrat takes advantage of us. :)
https://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long-fact-sheets/White-throated%20woodrat.php
I can't speak for Sonoran packrats, but here in Northern California our packrats often constructing multiple nests. Sometimes a small "village" of nests will show where several packrats live near each other, but they don't share a nest. Rat housekeeping includes obtaining aromatic leaves to line nests with and changing them every few days. Apparently the leaves help keep insects like fleas away. Secondary nests are sometimes used as "guest" houses.

Date: 2024-07-29 01:55 am (UTC)
scrottie: (Default)
From: [personal profile] scrottie
Ok that white-throated woodrat is incredibly cute. Not that subjective human aesthetic assessment matters given what you said.

Date: 2024-07-29 05:21 am (UTC)
ranunculus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] ranunculus
I have been known to re-route trails rather than tear apart a pack rat nest...

Date: 2024-07-29 02:09 am (UTC)
scrottie: (Default)
From: [personal profile] scrottie
Well I understand your comment about getting a bike ride now. Pretty sure I've never done Mount Lemon (tho could just be forgetting) which seems like a horrible omission. Knocking on wood here. It's a good sign that the car starts and moves. They're not going to have parts on hand and would have to order them so if they're willing and able to repair wires instead of replace, I'd go for that.

Date: 2024-07-29 03:49 am (UTC)
house_wren: glass birdie (Default)
From: [personal profile] house_wren
Wow. Thanks for posting the photo; it got my attention.
I've only seen a pack rat nest once. It was so big! It was at Torrey Pines Beach State Park, up on the top where the trails are. At the time I was clearing out my mother's House of Hoarding and it was somewhere between amusing and disturbing to see it.
Where I live, mice get in the cars in the garage every winter and chew things. This year a mechanic told us to put peppermint oil at various places. He claims it will discourage the mice. I don't know; it might.
I am enjoying all your posts and stories; thank you for that.

Date: 2024-07-29 02:18 pm (UTC)
mallorys_camera: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mallorys_camera
Yeah. Mice took out my glove compartment last year. My car smells like a giant peppermint patty!! 😀

Date: 2024-07-29 03:25 pm (UTC)
From: [personal profile] sytharin
Sis. This is... the most... you problem I can imagine.

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