Mice in my cab

Hi. Just wondering how common this is.

I work in a wooded area and my truck is parked overnight. Today we found droppings inside the cab of the truck. I was a bit shocked as I didn't think rodents would be able to access the inside of the cab. After poking around I found mice had gotten into air intake (not past the filter). I then decided to check the cab filter and found they had gotten into the damn cab filter. This is a 2019 truck, why are mice so easily able to access the cab?

I've read this is an issue in older trucks, just didn't expect it with mine. Any ideas how to to keep them out of a 2019 TRD Off Road?

Thanks!

David

 

Welcome to the forum. Not an uncommon problem, search will get you to several cases where people have put metal screens where mice have chewed thru the plastic screen.

 

A adolescents mice can fit though a pen size hole...adult mice can fit though a hole the size of a dime...

A stupid joke ...”How do you catch a elephant?” ...dig a hole , put ashes in the hole...”when the elephant comes near? ..kick him in the ash hole..”

You may need. a Mouse trap...( remove the holes)
Aloha

 

Unfortunately I can't bring a cat to work with me and let it go in the forest.

I've read a few threads, nothing that shows how to screen off the fresh air intakes on a 3rd gen. Maybe I missed it.

 

I live on a coffee farm...we get rats and mice in the house.all the time....lucky not in the truck...more food in the house..lol

I have being using the Tomcat poison bait blocks and next popular brand is D-Con..works the same..for years..
I will crush the blocks of poison blocks ,mix with sardines/ tuna ...just a little ..for smell. (add the oils)..

note: Once the rats/ mice eat the poison...I would be free for a few weeks.. Then the new arrivals will discover my home..and I will mix another batch...be free for a few more week , and the cycle starts again..

You can set a bowl of this poison mix inside of your truck ...see what happens? If you have dogs or cats...be carefully?
Or in areas outside near your truck..
Aloha

 

.
.
<---cat

 

screen off the Fresh Air intake with metal screen, use the 2nd gen as a guide
try some of the mint/pepper oils repellent spray around your truck
get this taken care of before they go after your wiring

 

I'm not sure how to access them. Do you have a link to the 2nd gen guide?

Thanks

 

Grandpaw Gus's mouse repellant
I have heard this works I haven't tried it yet but ordering some now. Good luck!

$32 Grandpa Gus's Extra-Strength Mouse Repellent Pouches, Cinnamon/Peppermint Oils Repel Mice from Nesting & Freshen Air in Car/RV/Boat/Garage/Shed/Cabin, 1.75 oz (Pack of 10)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JMDYDVJ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2HCHIE6U0W1ZN&psc=1

 

3rd gen
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/critter-control-again.700781/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/air-intake-mouse-help-please.629317/

2nd
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cabin-filter-rat-nest.680135/#post-23963952
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dead-mouse-on-top-of-cabin-air-filter.352092/

 

Holy crap. Mine wasn't near as bad as some of those. Thanks for the links.

 

That cat looks ready to kick some a$$ !!

 

Do you have food in the truck? Any food or snacks will draw the mice to your truck. Mice can fit thru a 1/4" gap. If you place mesh on the Fresh Air intake, be sure the grid is smaller than 1/4".

BTW, cats are mythical mousers. If you want to see "mousing", search for "Terriers rat hunting"

 

Mice are determined lil buggers, there is no way to effectively block them. They can easily chew through plastic and fit through impossibly small gaps. Have seen them cause easily 100k in damage in 4 years as a service advisor for a different manufacturer(be glad you dont have a volvo 5 cyl where they nest under the timing cover)

Highly recommend not using poison. It has attractant which will increase the chance of them going into your truck. If it works now you have dead mouse somewhere in your truck and the smell will be putrid and can be a nightmare to locate.

Peppermint oil, moth balls and predator scent would be my recommendations along with the previously mentioned, no food left in truck. Also have heard from multiple people fluid film will keep em out. Good luck, mice suck and will get into any vehicle on earth if they want to. Key is to make it not a place they want to be

 

Sorry, this is a really, really, REALLY bad idea. All of these rodent poisons work the same way and when the animal starts to die, its instinct is to find a burrow in which to curl up; that could be heater duct, fan box, or some other small, very, very difficult to access space under your dash, or perhaps in/under the fabric of your seat. Don't know if you've ever come across it, but especially in a small space, you would be AMAZED at the smell that tiny, dead mouse will generate. Physical traps, or discouragement agents (predator urine, etc) would be a much better option. Best probably are the ultrasonic "repellers". One in the cab, and one in the engine compartment.

 

Funny enough, my F-150 got mice in it... they chewed up all of my iPhone cables (luckily that was the extent of the damage). They came in via the a/c outside air intake and up through the fan. The fix was to set my car to recirculate (effectively closing that door to the outside) each night.

Peppermint spray and traps are your friend. Put some in and nearby the truck. They will prefer the food to your truck. Also, clean the truck out and make sure to have zero food in it.

 

+1 on the NOT using poison. Use manual traps. Only way to be 100% sure you even killed them. One trick Ive found very effective with the simple mouse trap is to hot glue a chip or pretzel or popcorn to the bait tray, that way, the mouse cant make off with it(since its glued on) and the bait can be reused many times. they lick peanut butter right off without setting off the trap. ask me how i know.

 

I had a mouse get into a section of inaccessible ductwork in my house, everytime the furnace kicked on it blew that smell out, awful!

 

Ive been dousing my UCA/LCA and under the plastic engine cover with peppermint oil every other month and haven't had any issues since I had some wires chewed last year.