I think most of us have had a mouse in our house, but it turns out our vehicles also offer a cozy spot for these critters.
In fact, cars are a great place for mice to find protection from weather and predators. It’s an added bonus if you park your car near a food source – outside near a bird feeder, by a garbage bin or in a garage with bird seed or pet food.
Your vehicle also becomes enticing if you’ve left food in your car – escaped crackers, bits of a granola bar, even your used coffee cup can be a tasty treat for mice indeed!
Did you know that your wiring may also be attracting them? Some car manufacturers switched from using petroleum-based wire insulation to soy-based. This move was not only to save money but also because it was better for the environment. It seems like mice might also be happy with the switch as well, considering they find the soy-based materials to be quite delicious.
How can you tell if a mouse has taken up residence in your car?
- You could be experiencing car trouble. If mice have chewed on your car’s wiring, your car may not work properly. It may not start at all or your engine light might be on. There are many wires and hoses for mice to chew and unfortunately it can be quite expensive to fix.
- There may also be signs of a nest. You may have to get some help from your mechanic to check this one out. Some of their favourite spots to make a nest include the engine compartment, behind plastic paneling, air conditioner ducts, and the heater blower motors. Perhaps you’re hearing vibrating or rustling sounds coming from your heater. This could be due to nesting materials in these systems. Mice like to shred cabin air filters, perhaps to use as nesting materials. Mice may also decide to chew your upholstery to use as nest materials. Be sure to remove all nesting material.
- A bad smell coming from your air vents could indicate mice activity. Over time an unpleasant smell can form from their waste or, if the odor is particularly awful, it could be a sign you have a dead mouse on board.
- You may also find items like dog food, bird seed, and mouse droppings in your car.
- You may see the mouse. If this is while you’re driving, please be careful and don’t panic!
If you discovered you have mice in your car, or want to prevent this from happening, there are a few things you can try:
- Make sure your car is free of any food, food wrappers and other garbage.
- Park your car in a garage, if possible. Make sure all pet food, bird seed, garden seeds and other food sources are stored in suitable storage bins.
- Honking your car horn may be just enough to cause the mice to leave.
- Lavender essential oil, peppermint essential oil and shavings of Irish Spring Soap may be enough to get rodents to hit the road. For the essential oils, place several drops on cotton balls and place in safe locations where you see signs of mice. Essential oils can damage plastic so be careful. If you are concerned, place the drops of essential oil on one side of the cotton balls and place in a small plastic bag with the essential oil side up. Place small holes in the bag or leave the bag open. Depending on where you place the cotton balls or bags, you may have to remove them before driving.
- If there are long periods that you won’t be using your car, make sure to turn it on every couple of days.
- Mice are weary of cats and dogs. Place some pet fur in a nylon stalking and place in safe locations in and around your car.
