Pack Rats in Engines, Sheds and Garages

Pack rats have a talent for showing up in strange places. A pickup that sat for a week. A riding mower. The back of a shed nobody's opened since spring. You find a pile of sticks, pine needles and junk, a strong smell, and sometimes the rat itself.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife counts six woodrat species in the state, and most parts of Colorado have at least one. Around Colorado Springs, the foothills and rocky slopes are where you're most likely to meet them.

Why they pick engines and sheds

In the wild, woodrats den in rock crevices, outcrops and canyon walls. A quiet shed, a garage or the engine bay of a parked car is a sheltered space with places to tuck a nest, which is close enough. CPW says they carry home rocks, wood, bones and hardware, and they're especially drawn to shiny things. That's why owners find foil, screws and keys mixed into the nest.

Signs it's a pack rat

Look for these:

• A stick nest with pine cones, cactus bits, paper and odd objects mixed in
• A dark, crusted spot of urine and droppings near the nest
• Missing small items from the garage or workbench
• Chewed wiring or hoses in a vehicle

Cleaning out a nest

Treat a woodrat nest like any rodent mess. Air out the shed or vehicle first, with the doors and hood open. Wear gloves. Soak the nest and droppings with disinfectant and wait five minutes before you touch anything. Don't sweep it out dry. Bag it, double-bag it and put it in a covered can. The hantavirus cleanup guide has the full steps.

If the nest was in an engine, have a mechanic check wiring, hoses and filters before a long trip.

Keeping them out

Close the gaps in the shed and garage with metal: hardware cloth over vents, sheet metal or mesh over holes, and sweeps on doors. Clear brush and woodpiles back from buildings. Use parked vehicles regularly and pop the hood now and then. A provider can trap the woodrat, clear the nest and seal the building. See pack rat removal and mice and pack rats in vehicles.

Related services: Pack Rat Removal, Mice and Pack Rats in Garages and Vehicles, Barns, Sheds and Outbuildings