Sealing a Tacoma bed

I've been driving a 2006 Tacoma for the last couple of years, and I don't think the bed is sealed very well. The bed is covered with a tonneau that isn't waterproof, but it does NOT have any large openings that I can find. Anyway, this winter mice have figured out how to get in. Several times I've opened the tonneau to find a nest. The nests are about the size of a cantaloupe, and they seem to be made of something like lint. My questions are: How are the mice getting into the bed, how do I keep them out, and where are they getting the material to build the nests? They better not have access to the cab interior, or I'll get really upset.

In my research I came across this Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efu6tImdP-I&t=449s The relevant part begins at about 2:10. Andrew St Pierre White is talking about dust, not mice, but it's about sealing the bed. My own Tacoma bed also very dusty.

BTW, I live in a forest, and I don't have a garage. I need to park among the trees.

 

Get in the bed, under the cover, on a pitch black night. Have a partner go all around the bed, including underneath, with a super bright light. Wherever you see light, sealing is an option. It doesn't take much space for a mouse to enter.

Be grateful they are only in the bed. Underhood is much easier to get to, and they like to chew expensive wires.

In cab is also possible, but much more rare, because they have to work a lot harder to get there.

 

Particularly check the "storage" cubbies.

 

Yep, use the light under the bed method and you'll be surprised. Pull the cubbies and seal around them, tape any gaps, replace the seals on the tonneau if needed. Install a tailgate seal and seal along the tailate panels. Lastly, install a cat (only partially kidding, there's a reason people have kept them around for so long). Having an outdoor cat helps keep the rodent population under control; female cats seem to be more efficient at this than males in my experience although having them occasionally deliver the dead critter to the door can be a bother at times.

There are a couple of threads on this subject in the forum on shells as well as several good ones on ExPo.

It's not that hard for mice to get into the cab really, there are several plugs that they could go through. Not just the firewall but also the rear wall and under the doors.

ETA- I watched the video and really wish we could get caps like that Bush Tec here. I would avoid using olive oil on any foam as it's going to attract critters and it goes rancid. Personally I used closed cell foam since it won't hold water instead of that open cell that he used.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll try some of the ideas. Part of the problem is that I'm 70 years old, and I'm getting to be a curmudgeon. I don't think I should have to deal with mice in the bed of my pickup. Oh well, I would probably get bored if everything went smoothly.

 

I was thinking of starting another thread on that subject. Why are pickup canopies so wimpy? I don't get it. Like the man says, you could open the lock of a fiberglass canopy with a wire coat hanger. Here in the Pacific Northwest you have to pay almost $2000 for a canopy that's practically worthless. I've seen a few good canopies on various pickups, but I haven't been able to locate anything on the internet.

 

If for no other reason than personal satisfaction, install some snap traps baited with peanut butter. Man's triumph over nature and such...