Mice and Rodent Damage in Cars and Vehicles... (brakes, best, truck)

[Nu2pomona]

We're in need of some advice. Mice have done about $500 damage to my husband's car which is parked outside and driven just once a week (to get the Sunday paper). They've chewed insulation, through fuel lines, shredded the air filter and more. We do have a two car garage but the lawn tractor, trailer, mower, wheelbarrow, etc. have taken over one bay.

What can we do to prevent more damage in the future? I suggested putting some poison bait in the trunk (we found a nest there), glove box (another nest) and under the hood. I also suggested putting some on the ground beneath the car.

Anyone had any experience in this area???

[Deez Nuttz]

The only problem with poison mice baits is when they eat it, then they go die somewhere out of sight and start stinking up the car, then you have the luxury of finding out where the dead mouse bodies are to dispose of them.

I'd suggest sticky traps...that way you know where the trap is and the mouse doesn't escape once on it.

Since the car sits more than it gets driven, ordinary spring type mouse traps fitted with peanut butter work well too. Just check on it before going off to get the paper.

I think I've heard moth balls work but I have not tried it myself. perhaps someone else would chime in.

And yes I've had problems with mice before getting into vehicles and chewing on anything and everything in sight.

[Tennesseestorm]

I have heard that regularly placing fresh fabric softner sheets will keep them out, but I cannot say for sure... I have just often heard this.

They can also damage electrical wiring.

[RT85]

First, I would clean the car real good. The mice probably found something in there that they liked. Vacuum and shampoo the carpets. The next problem is that you said the car is driven once a week. Leaving the car a lone makes the car a nice quiet place to build a nest. You don't have to drive it more, but just get in there more often. If you do this, there probably won't be any need for poisons or traps.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

I think I've heard moth balls work but I have not tried it myself. perhaps someone else would chime in.

They work, but you'd have to put them about everywhere in the car. And then your car smells like moth balls.

[Deez Nuttz]

While we're on this topic, anyone know how mice get into a car when the doors are shut and all the windows rolled up?

[Jaggy001]

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

I'd suggest sticky traps...that way you know where the trap is and the mouse doesn't escape once on it.

The only problem with glue traps is that the mouse is often still alive when you find it.

I have never had mice in my car but did have a problem in my basement and used a combination of spring traps, glue traps and poison.

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

ordinary spring type mouse traps fitted with peanut butter work well too.

Peanut butter bait is inhumane. The mouse might get salmonella poisoning

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

While we're on this topic, anyone know how mice get into a car when the doors are shut and all the windows rolled up?

Mice are small and flexible critters. All it takes is a hole in the firewall about the size of a nickel.

[northbound74]

At the shop, we have this problem. Sticky traps to the trick, usually. I've put them inside a car before, and caught 5-6 at one time over the weekend. Kind of gross.

[Deez Nuttz]

Originally Posted by Jaggy001

The only problem with glue traps is that the mouse is often still alive when you find it.

Yes true, but better than the mouse crawling into a hole somewhere and dying and you having to smell the stink. Just make sure not to put your hands anywhere near the mouse or it may bite.