Since the repair of the airbag wiring, there has been zero evidence of mice. But today it got even better. We went out to the car and found fresh RAT shite on the back floors. Yea, a freeking rat is coming and going! No damage to see, but just a bunch of turds.

There is evidence of some of the carpet being chewed in the rear package well, where it comes up to meet the right rear side panel. And this panel has a nice little passageway through to the body vent. See image of the vent from the outside behind the bumper cover (youtube image, from a cover removal, not mine). I suspect this might be the way in for them. If I could get the cover off, I'd attach some mesh over the vents, but it's a fair job to take it off. I still might. I wonder if it could just be warmed up and snapped open in that local area?

I've put some pure peppermint oil around and near the passageway and down on the carpet, and stuffed some dryer sheets up in behind the panel. We've bought some XL rodent traps on amazon, some rat rid from CTC.

I don't know what else to do...

 

Can't get at them Todd. Will require the removal of the inside panel or bumper cover to reach the vents.

Makes you wonder... Whether there's something about the vehicle that's attracting them!

A friend of mine has a pretty new Subaru. He had squirrels do a bunch of damage chewing wiring under the hood. It turns out it is a common problem - whatever they're using for wire insulation these days is apparently attractive to rodents! He was living in an apartment with underground parking at the time, and had to rig up some kind of ultrasonic animal deterrent in his parking spot.

-- Edited by jduffett on Thursday 4th of February 2021 07:55:29 PM

That's horrible! I've been using Bounce sheets for decades and (knock on wood) it has worked and smells ok. If I was in your shoes I'd try an ultrasonic repellent from Amazon or somewhere. As long as you don't have other pets nearby... I've always wanted to try one. For a squirrel in my attic, I tried am radio but eventually trapped it. Good luck. They treat mice etc very seriously in Manitoba. Insurance will tow your car on the spot and fully clean, disinfect and perform an air quality test before being sent to a mechanic or back to you. ak

We know this is the only sure way Stephen! Can I rent her?

No sign of any action. I've put dryer sheets up into the pathway out of the rear vents, so if they come through, I should see signs of the sheets being pushed out onto the floor.