A mouse in the house - or more specifically my car

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Stillk

Stillk

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I was showing my SE to a neighbor - lifted the hood and noticed some mouse droppings on the cover of the motor. After the neighbor left I took off the cover and found that a mouse or mice had chewed some of the insulation that covers the engine and made a nest. There are 3 small areas of insulation that the mouse had chewed - probably not enough to cause any issues but I will take it to the dealer just in case.

Time to visit the home improvement center to purchase some sort of mouse traps
 
I had to have the temp sensor in the front bumper replaced bc a rodent chewed the wire. $500. I lifted the hood and saw some dried grass. Took off the engine cover and found a little nest. Stuck some fresh mint in there, just in case it actually works. Doubtful.
 
Be careful with those mice. In states where H5N1 is prevalent, mice (and cats) are starting to be carriers of H5N1.
 
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Qisl said:
Be careful with those mice. In states where H5N1 is prevalent, mice (and cats) are starting to be carriers of H5N1.
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I’m not worry about mice enter my car my cat Logan is taking SE once a while for a ride no issue with rodents
 
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Fortunately no direct contact with the mice just their nesting material - not sure if H5N1 is present in New York State. I know it was a prevelant when I lived in New Mexico. I know I should be concerned about cooties - more concerned about the potential damage they could do to my car. Went to the hardware and bought some stuff that should send them to mousey heaven.

My cat Oliver just got his learner's permit so no solo rides yet.
 
Puppethead said:
Just be thankful the mice didn't nest and eat your charging wires like me!
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Along with using recycled pop bottles for the seats of my 2000 Honda Insight, Honda's eco mandate caused them to put soy insulation on the cars wiring. Many of those early Insights--fortunately not mine--were totaled by rodents who found that insulation tasty. My 2006 Honda Insight looked the same, but I was happy to learn it didn't have wires with soy-based insulation.
 
All those pictures of rodent damage make me paranoid and want to go out and inspect my vehicle from top to bottom. To those that suggested Irish Spring soap - doesn't work on the hoard of deer we have and sort of doubt its effect on mice - but since I have a ton left over from trying to repel deer I'll give it a try. I'm more of the good old fashioned traps type - something satisfying and maybe a little sadistic about emptying a trap after it has been sprung - sorry PETA
 
I found a small hole in the hood insulation centered above the engine and a few signs of a picnic on top of the engine cover. Many folks swear by mint products or red pepper sprays, but our little neighbors appear to relish them. Putting kill traps out full time is not practical for me as they are not very picky about what they catch. I've had more luck parking in a different spot all the time, they don't seem to like nesting in mobile homes.

I now have a couple spare security cameras monitoring my vehicles to alert me of possible mice vandals in the area. When I see a mouse roaming around I set a live trap out and then release them a mile away. For a couple weeks after setting them out I caught a few every night, but I haven't had to set them for a couple months now. Seems that once you get rid of the local population, they seem to stay away.

I've lived in this wooded lot for near 50 years now, and this has been the most effective and safest way to prevent rodent damage.
 
ColdCase said:
When I see a mouse roaming around I set a live trap out and then release them a mile away.
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When we had a heavy mouse infestation I also did live trapping. I always enjoyed taking my SE for a quick little jaunt to release the unwanted visitors.
 
goaheadbackup said:
Any tips on removing and replacing the plastic engine cover? I fear some critters may have visited . . .
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Just pull upwards at each corner, one at a time. Warning: Watch to make sure the rubber grommets in the cover don't get lost--I've had to purchase new ones after losing a couple of mine when showing off what's under the cover at Drive Electric Week events. It's not critical--I heard no rattling when one grommet was missing.
 
insightman said:
Just pull upwards at each corner, one at a time. Warning: Watch to make sure the rubber grommets in the cover don't get lost--I've had to purchase new ones after losing a couple of mine when showing off what's under the cover at Drive Electric Week events. It's not critical--I heard no rattling when one grommet was missing.
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Thank you!
 
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