mice!

[JHZR2]

Found a nest under the fuel rail and by a thick wiring harness that sits along the front of the valve cover. All was OK, but there was one wire in a protective sheath that I saw this:

Doesnt look like they got into the wire, and there is no signs of harming any other actual exposed wire insulation. I can wrap/cover this to protect, but how do I best prevent?

Thanks!

 

[friendly_jacek]

I don't know what car you have, but I'm hearing that mice like Toyota/Lexus' plastics a lot. Supposedly some plastics are made from natural materials.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Get a few mouse traps with peanut butter and put the traps on the garage floor under the car engine.

 

[Lead Shoes]

Bounce dryer sheets work very well for deterring mice from an area, and leaving a nice smell

 

[dparm]

Sprinkle cat urine near the garage. The mice will stay away.

 

[ltslimjim]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Sprinkle cat urine near the garage. The mice will stay away.


...and on that note I can go to sleep finally. BITOG, could your site go down for a good week? I'm getting mentally fried here!

 

[hardcore302]

I have gallons upon gallons of extra cat urine if you need some. just pay for shipping.

lol!

 

[eljefino]

They have a bitter spray for cats that chew on wires. Mice "like" the rubber in insulation too.

I'd unravel that sheath and double check things in that area. They probably weren't in it for the plastic.

 

[Donald]

Where was the vehicle? How long was it there? Mouth balls work as does peppermint oil. If the car was in the garage with door closed, then traps are a good idea.

Check air filter and intake area for a nest.

I have had them chew fuel lines in weed whacker, air filter in mower, had a field day in Suburban.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Where was the vehicle? How long was it there? Mouth balls work as does peppermint oil. If the car was in the garage with door closed, then traps are a good idea.

Check air filter and intake area for a nest.

I have had them chew fuel lines in weed whacker, air filter in mower, had a field day in Suburban.


The nest was right on top of that spot where the wire cover was messed up. None of the other wiring looked touched in any way.

The nest was a combination of grey fuzz, red strings and some other lint in a 2"x5" little soft spot. I pulled it all and blew out the area with compressed air, which seemed to work to get it all out...

 

[Bill in Utah]

When my parents were in involved in their accident this May that totaled their VUE their rent-a-car had some mice damage in the air filter housing.

I was checking out how easy it was to service the vehicle and took the air filter out. (yes I checked out everything being a BITOGer

) To my amazement it had a BIG hole in the middle of the element and a nest on the bottom of the duct.

So I went down to Wal-Mart to pick up a new Fram filter for it and put it in. Put the old one plus the receipt in a bag and Enterprise paid my Dad for the filter even though the clown who hit them was paying for the vehicle.

The vehicle was from AZ so I wonder when and where the mice had a chance to nest?

About 15 years ago I had a nest over the winter on one of my motorcycles that was stored outside in a shed with a cover on the tank/seat. They had eaten the seat and made a nest under the seat and into the air box. Expensive mistake.

Around here we use the "blue rice" and it keeps the mice to a point where I don't see them and any sign of them. Just place it in containers that have little holes in them for the critters.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Our pest control service keeps bait containers on each side of the garage door, the garage pedestrian door, my overhead shop and pedestrian doors, as well as in my storage/garden shed. They also have two strategically placed around the outside of the house, and two around the outside of the shop.

Despite our rural location I've never had a mouse get past them, and never had mouse damage on any vehicles or equipment. As the mice look for a warm winter home each fall I usually find 3-4 dead mice within 6 feet or so of the bait stations.

There's no telling where else in your car they went-I'm willing to bet that there is other damage that you haven't yet found.

 

[Bamaro]

I'd be concerned about using baits. The mice dont die immediately and could go in your car and die later.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Bamaro
I'd be concerned about using baits. The mice dont die immediately and could go in your car and die later.


I find them dead within 6 feet or so of the bait stations, always up against the same wall the bait station is on. How much quicker do they need to die?

 

[JHZR2]

hmmm, checking the air filter is a smart move. Next on my list.

Bill, do tell regarding the blue rice.

Is anybody concerned about killing mice and them dying in an inopportune spot where they then stink?

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: Bamaro
I'd be concerned about using baits. The mice dont die immediately and could go in your car and die later.


I find them dead within 6 feet or so of the bait stations, always up against the same wall the bait station is on. How much quicker do they need to die?


The theory is the poison in the bait makes them thirsty so they so outside to find water.

 

[Donald]

I will rent out "Billy the Cat" to anyone in need. He is a pretty darn good hunter and loves to dissect the critters after killing them (Ok, I am not sure at what point they are actually dead).

Awhile ago I had flying squirrels in my attic (kind of like a mouse with webbed feet) and was trapping them and letting them go at a rest stop on the highway on my way to work. A few I assume did not want to get trapped and tried to make a run for it. Billy saw them coming.

 

[mechtech2]

Not rare at all.
Mice nests, droppings, and chew marks are often seen in engine compartments.

 

[hatcoleman]

Mix up water and red pepper make a paste. Smear it over the wire harness. And put out bait where car is parked.

 

[dparm]

Animals are also attracted to the heat of the engine in the winter.