Mice in Truck

So today I found something in my truck that has never happened to me before. I had left an open bag of potato chips in my cup holder rolled up since I had not finished them yet from lunch the day before. I went into the rear of the truck to find the open bag on the floor mat without a single crumb left and some droppings in the back. The little bastard ate my food and then left me his own little treats behind.
I am searching for something that can be used to repel rodents from getting into my vehicle again. I have already placed some TomCat traps inside the truck but I want to also try and prevent this later. I read that Peppermint Oil works well. Has anyone else had this problem and what did you use to keep them out?
Thanks

 

The only thing that will keep them out 100% is the Firewall Screen Mod. Use the search function here and you will find lots of great posts and pics of how to do it.

 

Here's a great thread to get you started. The only thing I do different is to use silicone to secure the screens instead of screws or zip ties.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/mouse-rodent-proofing-stage-one.44679/

 

Thanks

 

Easiest thing to do is to not bait them inside by leaving any food in the truck.

I have been using these and they have been effective so far. I replace every 2-3 months, and I actually enjoy the smell. My truck is also parked in a place that has no shortage rodents.

Good luck.

$18 Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent - Botanical Pest Control for Indoor Use - Safe for Kids & Pets When Used As Directed - Made with Plant Fibers, Balsam Fir Essential Oil & Fragrance - 4-Pack

https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Cab-Bo...2960819&sr=8-1-spons&smid=A24602H1D0K5NJ&th=1

 

I had the same mice issue last winter in my 2016, Not sure if it was more than 1, I found droppings in the rear seat storage areas as well inside the center console, this brat chewed off the rubber of the ear frame of the Oakley sunglasses that my wife left inside the console. I simply left the bait blocks & never seen them again. The thing is I see there is enough spaces around the hinges of the console lid that i blv has open passage to the underside of truck. Wish Tundra made it with some rubber seal or a different hinge system to avoid these issues. Surprisingly i didnt leave any food inside & they still attempted leaving chewed tissues etc.

 

Thanks for the tip on this item from Amazon. The thing is I have left snacks in my other vehicles before and never had an issue until now. I am kind of glad that it happened in a way so that I know there is something I need to fix before it creates more problems for me.
Has anyone ever tried the electronic items that put off a signal that the rodents can hear and keeps them away? Found some on Amazon that I was maybe considering.

 

Whatever you do, DO NOT USE POISON!!!!!!, I used poison in my first car because mice were building nests in the glove box, the mice than died somewhere in the cabin air ducts! and over the summer they decomposed

 

Oh MAN That would SUCK!! I hadn't thought about that issue. This weekend I am going to take apart the area where the wipers are and install a wire mesh over the Cabin Air Filter intake to block that off. If I didn't drive the truck everyday I would just use the old fashioned mouse traps to just kill them on the spot as long as they take the bait.

 

You're gonna have to screen off the air intake and all of the other openings that allow access there in the firewall.

https://www.tundras.com/media/img_0591.37111/

 

I plan on doing just that this weekend. I actually purchased a snap trap that you use with bait and caught a mouse. I took care of that one and set the trap again to see if I can catch another one since I do not yet know if I have anymore. Usually where there is one that are more.

 

Sealed up the Cabin Air intake today with some steel screening. Caught one mouse with a traditional trap. Haven't caught anymore since that last one. Hopefully I was able to get rid of the mice. I need to take apart the center console to see if that is where it was hiding out. The old cabin air filter didn't have any remnants of a mouse so I am not sure if that was where he was hanging out at. Only so much one can do to get rid of these pests. Hopefully I caught the mouse early enough before they produced a family

 

Did you remember to screen the hole on the D/S behind the wiper motor?, I missed that one the first time I did mine.

 

Where do you set them?

 

Use baited traps all around the outside of the truck to kill them. If you block them from entering the cab they have to settle for chewing on wiring in the engine bay leading to worse problems than mouse poop on your floor mats.

 

That's not great advice IMO. The battle is to keep them out of your cabin, and prevent them from chewing the wires also. Mice urine and feces carry nasty Hantavirus which can get you pretty sick, and having them in your vents and filters is just asking for trouble.

 

Kill the mice with any preferred method before they enter the engine bay (and then into the cab). Protecting just the cab by blocking cab access is not enough.

 

We bought a bag of birdseed with a piece of tape covering a small hole. Left it in the back of our Element overnight only to find another hole the next morning. An exit hole. Didn't think much about it until about a week later after returning to the car sitting in the hot sun all day at the marina. A mother mouse and three offspring died and left thier magic fragrance above my headliner.

 

I just put one in the passenger door storage tray and replace every 3 months. It fills the cabin with its fragrance which is not offensive or overpowering. Working so far but it is a limited data point.

IMO even if you screen off the interior, they can still do damage in the engine bay. Removing all food from the cab is a good plan but if you eat inside your truck, you have definitely dropped food in it. Even small crumbs are an attractant. Better plan is to not eat inside your truck at all. I know most will not do this.

Killing them around your truck is a good plan but if you live or park your truck in rural areas or places that aren't garages or complete parking lots, it is an unending battle.

 

I've heard that placing mothballs under your hood keep critters away. Truth, or old wives tale? I don't know. But I'm trying it anyway. Hopefully its a cheap and easy solution.

 

Okay, disregard the mothball advice. I put the mothballs in yesterday, and this morning the inside of my cab reeked of mothballs. I took them out immediately. I tried this method so all of you wouldn't have to.

 

I used pepper spray under my engine hood and along my frame rails. It was absolutely terrible for a month. Apparently the stuff holds on because I haven't found mouse crap or paw prints anywhere since I did it. It worked, but it was a ham-fisted solution. I've used moth balls before, but squirrels don't seem to mind them for some reason. Rodents suck.

 

I'm gonna try spraying everything down in peppermint essential oil next. Maybe even zip tie some rags in the engine bay and douse them with peppermint.

 

I recently had a long battle against mice in my garage and tried the peppermint thing. Didn't do a god damn thing.

 

What did you use? I hear that peppermint extract doesn't work, but peppermint essential oils do. Keep in mind, my research is limited to YouTube only at this point. I am by no means an expert.

 

Multiple days/nights of using what I call the mouse death chamber. Had to do it over several weeks and a couple of months until I could set it out for a few nights and get nothing. That and extensive searches for any signs of mice, like poop, convinced me that they were gone. I killed many, many mice and fully expect that they may return at some point, but after trying many things this worked best. It kills so fast that they don't even have a chance to get in dirty inside. I would just dump the carcass and set it back down to get another.

$20 OWLTRA Indoor Electric Mouse Trap, Instant Kill Rodent Zapper with Pet Safe Trigger, Black, Small

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DCYHSZN?ie=UTF8

 

I did not do the driver side since I did not even know there was a hole on that side. I have not found anymore mice so I am hoping that I have taken care of the problem. I am going to dry some of that stuff another member here recommended.

 

Sounds like a good plan, If they do get in again, at least you'll know where to check. Good luck.

 

We had mice going into our Sequoia and RAV4 engine bays. They kept eating all the washer fluid hosing. Droppings were left on top of the engine covers.

I started by using mechanical traps, which wasn’t very successful. Then switched to glue traps, but they started catching more than just mice, so we abandoned that idea.

Ultimately, I had to start parking both cars in the garage and seal the garage off well. After that, the mice problem went away.