Long story...
Been parking in front of the house at deer camp for five years now (near Freer). No issues with rats under the hood, until a couple months ago. Occasionally I would find a bit of vegetation or a few droppings but no damage. A couple months back one made a nest with some of the gray cloth insulation it found under the hood in my wife's Tahoe. Fortunately no big deal.
A couple weeks ago I drove down on a Friday night. Checked the oil on Saturday and found some fresh sprigs of vegetation that had been stockpiled in the engine compartment. Started the truck and moved it a few feet into the shade, thinking maybe the culprit, if it was still under the hood, would bail.
Sunday before I left I popped the hood and a giant rat climbed down the engine block. I found chewed wire loom tubing. And, wires that had been chewed through. Truck started fine and drove the two hours home. While unloading I see the rat under my truck. He was near the rear wheel and so I started the truck and drove forward and reverse a bit to try to run it over. No luck. Parked it in the driveway, drove it to work and back Monday and checked under the hood Monday night. Apparently when I was trying to run him over he climbed back up under the truck because I found that it had chewed up more of the same wires and loom. Much shorter than the original job he did.
Now my wiper fluid motor doesn't work. Four fine copper wires that will need to be spliced and, unfortunately, on one end they are chewed to the nub. It's going to be a fun repair project.
Can't believe the bastage made a two hour trip home. Then did more damage a second night.
The past couple trips to the ranch I've left the hood completely open at night. No additional issues.
