Need some advice - rodent damage

We had the same problem with wife Corolla. Once fixed I got mouse blockers and have them in the engine bay for her car and my truck. Nothing has come back yet.

 

That or Bounce dryer sheets are a popular choice with the boat guys during winter storage. I tried using the store brand dryer sheets one year and the mice made a nest under one of the seats in our pontoon. I went back to genuine Bounce brand and never had an issue again.

 

I tried bounce sheets, peppermint sachels, pepermint oil, antifreeze cocktails, sticky traps, snap traps, mouse blocker w/lights and sound... can't remember what else.

The best thing I read was once they nest and piss, you have to steam clean it or they just come back. I have snap traps and caught 2 mice so far while all that other stuff was going on so in my case, the other crap isn't working.

 

I've said it on here before the best mouse trap I've found is a 5 gallon bucket filled with a gallon of molasses.
Hit up Tractor Supply for everything.
Basically a mouse tar pit....set it and forget it. You'll be surprised at the results.

 

I had similar problems with a motorhome in our last house and the all the mentioned fixes (soap, dryer sheets, mothballs, peppermint oil, etc) did not work. I ended up building a barrier around the entire rig using 12" aluminum flashing. I made a removable gate to get in and out. The critters either couldn't climb the smooth surface or just didn't try, but after removing and repairing the generator twice and finding mouse dropping all over the rig it was worth the effort. When we moved, we build a large RV garage first and then the house. Obviously the best fix, but expensive. Good luck.

 

Mouse blockers? Details, what brand, links?

 

There are allot of options. I chose they as I was having a hard time getting the one that attaches to the battery to work on Corolla. Loraffe Under Hood Rodent Repeller Battery Operated Ultrasonic Car Rat Repellent Mice Deterrent Keep Animal Away from Car Vehicle Protection, 2 Pack

$54 Ultrasonic Rodent Repellent for Car Engine - Battery Powered Under Hood Animal Repeller with Flashing Strobe Light, Keeps Rats and Mice Away from Vehicle, Automobile, Truck, Garage, Attic, Pack of 2

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N6JZ2J4

 

Happy-ish ending to the story. Took 3 weeks to get fixed but damage was much less than expected. About 2 grand total. In the mean time, I have killed 5 squirrels and turning a couple of barn cats into trained assassins. Also dousing the engine bay with a peppermint spray as a deterrent.

 

After mice chewed my harness the second time, I bought a roll of Honda rodent tape and had the tech wrap the new wires. So far, so good.
Sometimes I keep a packet of cab fresh on top of the cabin air filter. Mice like to chew it up and use it as nesting material.

 

There actually is a solution that could be adapted or modified for automotive use. Mice chewed the propane hoses to the main burners, the side burner and hose from the tank on my Weber gas grille. I came across just by chance of a round metal spiral/coil spring produce that you slide over the length of the rubber hoses. Picture a "Slinky" that is a little bigger diameter than the hoses. It stretches enough to cover the entire length of the hose and has enough spring in it so that it will stretch out to both ends and stay in place. No evidence that mice have ever chewed it and it doesn't rust. Search: "Propane Hose Safety Guard" on Amazon

I'm sure this would work in the engine compartment, but it would have to be installed at the factory before the connectors were installed on the harnesses.

 

check out Mouse Trap Mondays on youtube
I've been thinking about building a plank style trap in a 90+ gallon trash can

 

90 gallon!!

 

that's the rough size of the large trash/recycling 2 wheeled cans
entrance hole about 2/3 up on the front for the plank and an eye bolt across from it for the bait
fill about 1/3 with water for drowning
maybe a hasp on the lid to keep looky loos out

 

How big of a rodent problem are you battling?

 

They are pretty sure my issue was caused by squirrels. I've been training my 12 lb schnauzer to get after them. Like I said, we got two barn cats. Also shooting as many as I can find. Shotgun too loud for daily use, 22 same, BB gun not enough power (although I did kill one with a BB last week), so I am thinking about a more powerful air rifle. I work at home, so I can open the window and shoot at them between meetings.

 

@Omegastu I have a 22 caliber break barrel pellet gun that has nearly the muzzle velocity of an actual 22 and will easily drop a squirrel. I've used these 22 quiet rounds and they're very quiet. They won't cycle a semi auto though.

https://www.cci-ammunition.com/rimfire/cci/quiet-22/6-960.html

 

Now now, vehicle manufacturers say there is no evidence soy based wiring is more attractive and they would never lie to protect their bottom line....

I had this issue repeatedly with an A4. You almost could not even park it outside a single night. Turned out to be rabbits. Catch one and relocate and another would take its place. I left one at my daughter's daycare after it apparently came along for the ride. Audi would put a metal sheathing over the targeting wires after it was hit the second time. When I inquired why I had to pay them twice to address it properly, they did it the second time at no cost. No problems since I swapped the A4 for the Tacoma. Not sure why they are not interested in the Escape. Might just be the design of the plastic plate underneath the A4 made it very appealing. The peppermint spray did not help really.

 

I had a rabbit crawl into my Silverado one time when I lived up in Virginia. Truck started but radio didn't work. I popped the hood and looked down in there, turned my head to the right and had a full size rabbit about 2 inches from my face. He didn't do too much damage, just chewed up the power wire to my amp.

 

Wabbits is goooood eatn'.