Hungry critter

[OttawaAquaBoy]

I was telling my local marina guy about a muscrat that is making itself at home under the stern portion of by boat cover during the week when I'm away from the cottage. I just thought of it as a bit of annoyance because he has chewed a few holes in the cover but not anywhere that it would cause water to get into the boat, and he stores his weeds and shells and stuff under the cover. <br /><br />The guy at the marina told me that they will down more boats than a storm will because for some reason they like the taste of rubber, expecially vulnerable are the boats that don't have transom mounted engines and have the big rubber bladder. I have a 3.0L 140 HP Mercruiser with an Alpha1. He said that the only thing on mine he can chew is the bellows and that if I keep the drive all the way down and straight he can't chew it.<br /><br />Anyone else hear about this type of behaviour. Are there any suggestions on detering him that don't involve a .22? The .22 will be my last resort.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[bayman]

Re: Hungry critter

Yes, I have heard of it before. It used to happen fairly often when they first came out with this type of drive with the rubber bladders. The manufacturers came out with bad tasting rubber to combat the problem. I haven't heard of it being a problem since then though... It is a possibility of course, but I haven't heard of it being a problem for awhile.

 

[wvit100]

Re: Hungry critter

Besides chewing a hole in your cover he will soon move on to chewing holes in your seats and such. Either live trap him or something. Next thing you know he will be moving the entire family into your boat.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Hungry critter

OAB,tilt the drive all the way up and with a gob of marine grease in each hand message it into the bellows.Get all the rubber coated and you will not only be deterring the little vermin,you will also be preserving all of the rubber that you coat.Then take a stocking(possibly your own,who knows) and fill it with moth balls and hang it where ever you dont want the vermin to be.Charlie

 

[AJ168]

Re: Hungry critter

The best thing to do is to go get a havaheart trap and trap him live, then relocate him far away.

 

[jaxsun]

Re: Hungry critter

turn that sucker into a pink mist

 

[Bondo]

Re: Hungry critter

Originally posted by AJ168:<br /> The best thing to do is to go get a havaheart trap and trap him live, then relocate him far away.

The "Best" thing to do ,....... Is Start with something Larger, More Powerful than a .22 ...................

 

[jaxsun]

Re: Hungry critter

add a 3 behind the .22

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: Hungry critter

Find a rat terrier. Muskrats no problem.

 

[OttawaAquaBoy]

Re: Hungry critter

Yep, he'll be eating lead next spring....he did infact get into the boat and munch on the seat seam and the depth finder cable on the transom. Don't know where to get a rat terrier.....I know some labs, shnoodles, golden retrievers and my german shepherd puppy....nothing that has an interest in eating a muscrat.....

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Hungry critter

Originally posted by telmanmn:<br /> Find a rat terrier. Muskrats no problem.

No muscrat problems in my boat ON GUARD!!!<br />

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Hungry critter

Trap him and then use him as bait!

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Hungry critter

Anybody else find themselves humming Muscrat Love by Captain and Tennille? <br /><br />Ken

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Hungry critter

Originally posted by KenImpZoom:<br /> Anybody else find themselves humming Muscrat Love by Captain and Tennille? <br /><br />Ken

Carefull Ken, you're dating yourself.

 

[BRG25]

Re: Hungry critter

Originally posted by OttawaAquaBoy:<br /> I just thought of it as a bit of annoyance because he has chewed a few holes in the cover but not anywhere that it would cause water to get into the boat, and he stores his weeds and shells and stuff under the cover.

You're kidding right?

 

[OttawaAquaBoy]

Re: Hungry critter

It is a cheap cover that is too large for the boat, he was eating the excess that hung over the swim platform. He was storing his weeds in it so in fact he was doing me a bit of a favor by weighing down the cover so it wouldn't blow away... Then he had to go and get greedy.....<br /><br />Hey Wimperdink that looks like an old seaflea I used to have (minus outboard and stearing wheel). Does your rat terrier make house calls? The muscrat and the terrier are close to being in the same weight class....that terrier must have some temperment when it sees a muscrat!!

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Hungry critter

I had a fat, old rat terrier that did in fact kill a young muskrat. Absolutely strange how a normally mild mannered dog got so viscous at the sight of a muskrat. The dog hated water like you wouldn't believe but dove right in after the muskrat without holding back.<br /><br />Unfortunately muskrats seldom waited around near shore to allow the dog to be an effective long term solution. My dad and his grandmas old sawed off .410 or his 12 gage worked nearly every time though.

 

[KilroyJC]

Re: Hungry critter

An extension cord...plugged in...smeared with peanut butter...

 

[brownies]

Re: Hungry critter

Get a female cat. Get her fixed (and sometimes that's still too many).<br />Mice, Rats, and the like don't come in "ones" and they WILL chew up ANYTHING that they can.<br /> They will chew up every spark plug wire, electical wire, hose, tube, uphostery, and even a battery. <br /> You can shoot em, poison em, trap em till you have no boat (or motorhome) left. (brings back memories of that movie "Caddyshack")<br /> As much as hate cats...Just the presence of a cat will keep them away.

 

[boatgrunt]

Re: Hungry critter

Pump some Celine Dion music into the cabin...works on anything...i've driven rabid skunks out from under my garage with a good blaring chorus of "all by myself"...<br /><br />When the muskrat comes out, double-tap his a$$ military style with nothing less than a 12-gauge...two to the body and a finishing shot to the grape...dang varmin!!!!