Anyone have problems with mice (or any critters) while camping?

Now I want chilli cheese dogs...

 

I would have named that car the hantavirus

 

good thing Hanta is not in southern az last 5 years

 

So I see some fiberglass exhaust wrap and insulation at my local auto parts store and it got me thinking. Would filling the areas under the airbox with some type of insulation prevent the bastards from getting up there in the first place?

 

Nope, they will use that to make their nest more comfortable, the insulation especially.. fiberglass wrap may just restrict air flow too much.

 

The cayenne pepper and water in a spray bottle is similar to what I did when squirrels chewed my wiring harnesses except I used men’s hairspray and then quickly dusted with cayenne pepper.
The hair spray help make it stay longer.

 

Where are you spraying and laying down the cayenne? I'm looking at my engine with the plastic cover removed and I would like to get this as close to the "valley" under the intake plenum. I don't see any clear way into that space without removing a bunch of parts.

 

Remember mice also clean themselves.... so as they are crawling around they will get it in their fur and when they clean themselves.... magic. They won't typically stay in a area that has consequences.

 

I just hit all the visible areas real good, especially the wires. I also took a large plastic cup with a snap on cap, filled it up with moth balls, drilled a bunch of 1/4 holes and zipped tied in in my engine bay. I didn’t drive my last tacoma that much because I had a work truck. So I think the squirrels thought that was a good place to nest and eat my wires. Moth balls are pretty strong and you may not want to go that far with the zip tie if it’s a daily driver, but you could do the same where you park and just leave them on the ground.

 

I'm starting school tomorrow and use a cheap daily driver to commute so the truck won't get out much, maybe an occasional weekend trip. I sealed my garage pretty well but I'll still hang some moth balls in the engine bay while it sits.

 

That makes sense, thanks. I would prefer not to spray cayenne (or anything) over electronics or parts that get real hot. I've got a few good spots that can be coated to hopefully stop them in their tracks.

 

Do you guys think using some cheap lights, something slim like a pen light, and shinning it in that valley under the plenum would help?

 

I think if I was going that route I would just install a couple of rock lights in the engine bay.

 

If your not driving the truck, put some baited mouse traps at the tires. That’s where they first access the truck.

 

I've got rock lights setup as work/bed lights. I know the draw is not a lot but don't want to leave them on all night, especially when it gets cold.

Any recommendation? I looked at the poison (Warfarin) ones but I have a dog at home.

For those wondering why I seem like such a noob, this is the first time I've encountered this many rodents. This was my first overnight in Tillamook (Oregon) where I saw dozen crawling on the ground when I flashed a light. I've got no experience with rodents since I've maybe seen 1 or 2 growing up in SoCal.

 

I have a dog at home also and I use jerky for bait in victor mouse traps. It’s safe, it last and mice love it. Went you first set the trap , wet the jerky good.

 

Moths have balls ?

 

I will try the pepper/water mix and see if that will cure the problem for me.

 

I've had lots of underhood wiring chewed up by a marmot and I've also spent hours battling a pika that finally left. Animals love hot engines on cold nites. Always open your hood when you park to let out the heat. I've used coyote urine with mixed success. Plus your dog may not like it. I've only had trouble with a hot engine. Best thing to do is get to camp in the afternoon, open the hood and have a cold engine by dark. I know it's not always possible....

 

What the hell kinda horrible places are you camping that rodents run rampant like this? I spend almost every other weekend in the woods and will maybe see a single mous or 2 all weekend.

Sounds like you have some kinda plague following you.