Need a Better Mouse Barrier

Monday I brought the Taco out of storage to find that all my efforts to keep the mice away failed. Truck is covered outside and I placed Grandpa Gus scent packets throughout the truck both inside and under the hood. I also frequently sprayed peppermint critter repellent under and around the Taco along with spraying down the truck cover.

When I uncovered it and opened the hood a mouse promptly asked me what the f*ck I was doing there at the same time I was asking him that exact question.

I couldn't catch him and didn't see any damage under the hood. I did find that they were nesting on the screen above the cabin air filter. The nest appears to be pieces of the truck cover lining stripped from the cover. I removed the nest, sanitized everything and replaced the cabin air filter. I also placed the Tomcat mouse poison blocks under the hood.

They have been actively consuming the Tomcat blocks. Today, 3 days later I removed the cabin air filter to inspect. The nest is not rebuilt but there are a lot of mouse droppings on the new cabin air filter. I will be replacing that again once I know the mice are abated.

I plan on adding sticky traps under the hood today. Any other suggestions?

 

Get one of these



HATES mice..... and turtles

 

Yeah, drive the truck so the mice and other rodents don't have time to build a nest. You bought the truck to use it, not to be a paper weight.

 

It's the winter ride. Thanks for you unsolicited opinion.

 

It wasn't unsolicited. You asked "Any other suggestions?" That was you soliciting. If you don't like the answers you get, don't ask the question.

 

Still not useful.

 

Make sure you wash your hands really good. That's nasty stuff to be touching.

I posted this photo on another thread. I use two LED work lights, one under the truck the other under the hood shining down along the fire wall.

The bright light deters them and other than traps, this is the best solution I have found, and I tried what you did as well as other stuff.

Edit: I should add I do not like poison. It may kill them, often inside the vehicle or house but, they will stink and dead mice attract other mice. Plus, if you have a cat or dog, or other wildlife around, there's a chance they'll get poison too.

 

When you post a question here, its a known thing that youre going to get opinions, youre asking for opinions.

But, would it ruin your week to drive it once or twice a week? Easier than all the crap that would go into mouse proofing.

 

Last year, I had a mouse chew through my washer fluid hose right under the hood. Easy fix, but it pissed me off I've heard mixed reviews on any kind of repellant scent, I just don't trust it. Ended up buying a bucket of the tomcat poison packs from tractor supply and put a couple in a coffee can on the carport. Mice chewed into it and tore into the packs, haven't seen any since. And mine's my daily driver, so mice isn't a problem exclusive to stored vehicles. Good luck OP

 

I just read this article, maybe try peppermint.

https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/this-surprising-hack-will-keep-mice-away-for-good/

 

If you search around, you’ll see a few recent posts about mice damage. I got vehicles for 30 years, including 20 years in my current location, never did anything special and never got a single issue with mice.

Got a new Tacoma in April, daily drove it and 4 months later, got a mouse that ate part of the main power harness in between the engine and air intake manifold (you wouldn’t be able to see it without dismantling the whole thing).

Now spraying peppermint oil in the engine bay, but to be honest, I don’t know if there’s a solution that really works.

 

FWIW I used dryer sheets in my camper and never had an issue.

 

I have used a couple of Irish Spring bars in my RV during non use times and the seem to work. Never had any signs of mice visiting.

 

My black lab is a mouse killing monster. Can't get her to pick up a bird, but mice/squirrels are FUCKED!

She's no match for snakes, tho. Damn thing is afraid of rope after she "explored" a black-tailed rattler...

 

Did you put 1/4” mesh to block them? Other than that maybe if it’s outside… pee around where you park?

you can always take home a shelter cat

 

not sure if this has been mentioned but leaving the hood up as well as putting LED rope on the ground around your truck will help. The hood up will keep them from not nesting under it because they like warm spots. The LED rope will stop them from coming in at night as they won't cross over it.

We have an old 73 Blazer in the backyard as well as our 5th wheel. We live pretty rural and have field mice all the time. Haven't had one in the 5th wheel or Blazer yet. We run a dusk to dawn timer on the LED rope light and this way, even out of town, we don't have to worry about it.

 

Nice. I had a rat terrier that lived to be 16, she got bit by a rattlesnake when she was a puppy, plus a few more times after that. Always recovered tho. I'm glad my catahoula and my feist are both scared of snakes. They bark and raise hell though, but they keep their distance.

 

Sounds like you to do more mouse extermination, or park inside a structure. Or convince a stray cat to hang around your place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHwvVPT202Y

 

That sucks OP. Hope you can find a method to keep them at bay.

 

food outside does wonders