There was a Mouse

[flashlight]

A couple weekends ago a friend and I went backpacking. We did all of the normal things make sure we had everything we needed and then lock up the car. Upon returning to the car a couple of days later we found a shredded napkin and other paper items (including a granola bar) in the car reduced to confetti. I'm assuming that a mouse or other small animal of that family got in the car and made a mess. What I can't figure out is how it gone in there in the first place. Can someone please help me out as it boggles my mind. Also how can I prevent such a thing from happening again as it isn't much fun to clean up after a rodent.

[Woodie83]

A mouse can get wherever water can get. Not really, but that really gets the idea across that there's no way keep them out absolutely. There are holes through the firewall for wires and such with rubber seals that are deteriorating, seals around doors doing the same, rust holes in the floor and rockers that you just haven't seen yet (especially if it's 95 or newer, they all rust out on the front side of the rear wheelwells) and there are air vents in the back of the car that exhaust air as you're driving.

[Johnny Mullet]

If an angry swarm off bees were chasing you and the only options you had to jump into were.......

Your Metro with no keys

A garbage can with a lid

Which one would you choose?

[doug2060]

LOL... One of my first cars (89 Cutlas) actually had roaches when I got it. No matter how much raid I used I couldn't get rid of them. They really got out and about when I would cut the air on... I would have rather dealt with a mouse.

[idmetro]

No roaches here but I have had to deal with several mice in different vehicles. I have had good success with the regular mousetraps - just set a couple in the darker corners of the car (under a front seat seems to be a favorite) and let them do the work. I haven't spent much time trying to figure out how the rascals got in, I just make sure there is no food left in the car to avoid attracting any others.

[intimadatorsquizz]

maybe one escaped out of your engine

jk mice don't need a very big hole plus they'll chew thru any plastic or rubber they can to get to food.

[Oxxon]

I once had ants invade my 81/82 Mustang. I used a bug bomb and that took care of them.

[1254Randy]

My experience shows that the most common point of entry for mice, is through the air intake right in front of the windshield. They climb right through the louvers and down through the ductwork. Remove the intake louver (push in the center of the plastic rivets) and hot melt glue some cut to size 1/4" mesh hardware cloth (screen) to the air intake opening. That should solve the problem. A cat sleeping on your warm hood will also work.

[DOCTORBILL]

The same day The Phoenix died, I caught a mouse with a mouse trap, the night before The Phoenix died.

Sat the trap on the passenger side floor baited with Peanut Butter.

I had left a package of peanuts on the back seat and the bugger chewed it open.

Had happened before in my Jeep.

Mice and Spiders can go anywhere !

Maybe the "Mouse God" had its revenge on me.

DoctorBill

[mr.Hand]

the best is when I am driving down the highway in traffic and I see a giant spider walking across the windshield on the inside

[DOCTORBILL]

I really wouldn't worry...they don't eat that much.

DoctorBill

[hazor]

In my older Dodge Caravan that was off the road for a few yrs which i had put back on the road [after my Geo died] i couldn't turn on the map lights in the overhead console the buttons seemed jammed.I finally got annoyed enough that i took it off and lo and behold dog food started tumbling out alot of it.There had to be a few pounds of it and was jammed packed so tightly behind the buttons they wouldn't move i was a little amazed.

[leonbentz]

Ahhhhhh....hitch hikers.....gotta love 'em