Mice Nesting In My Car

I just found out that there are mice nesting in my car, inside the seat. Other than mothballs, are there any other suggestions for ridding my car of this problem? The repair shop is cleaning out the nest, but they warned me that mice tend to return to rebuild their nests. Any ideas for preventing their return?

Lisa from WI

Answers:

Mice Nesting In My Car

Lisa, the mice being in the car isn't the problem, it's where you are parking it. If it's in a garage, you need to treat the garage. If its outside, look for a nearby wood pile or brush. I also live in WI. I do not kill outdoor mice, but move or dismantle their nests and remove anything they can use for nesting material. Mice provide a necessary part of the chain of life we depend on. Don't worry, they won't come running back like little lost sheep. Poisons provided to kill them will also kill toads, frogs, and other little critters you need outdoors to help control insect populations. (05/26/2005)

By C.J.cox

Mice Nesting In My Car

I have heard that keeping a Bounce sheet in the car will help prevent mice from coming in. Not sure if this works, but worth a try.

Good luck. (05/26/2005)

By Darlene in Mississauga

Mice Nesting In My Car

Mice don't like peppermint. If you could get some peppermint oil and put it in your car on a cotton balls it will drive them away. (05/26/2005)

By croslay26

Mice Nesting In My Car

I have heard that putting crumpled up aluminum foil in a mouse hole keeps them in their place so maybe you could try putting several pieces of crumpled up foil in the area where they nested. (05/26/2005)

By knitter in IL

Mice Nesting In My Car

Had the same problem except in the heater hoses and cost me $75 to have Canadian Tire find the problem and get my heat back. The hairdresser suggested putting clean human hair (no chemicals on it) under the seat and under the dash. I am mouse free and nice and warm now for 2 years. Find you nearest barber and grab some clean hair from the next cut. (07/31/2005)

By P_Licious

Mice Nesting In My Car

Re the peppermint thing. Try Altoids, the peppermint ones are the only one I've tried, but they work. Altoids are the only brand that contain real peppermint oil in them. (09/05/2005)

By Anah

Mice Nesting In My Car

I also have mice in my car. This is the second time. They have eaten all the wires causing my transmission to go out and the gas gauge not to work and the traction control not to work. It is costing me a fortune. After the first time it took me a long time to be able to drive my car without freaking out. I put peppermint oil and Bounce inside the car and I bought some fox urine to sprinkle outside. That worked. Then I sort of quit doing it because I thought the problem was solved, not, they are back. It is disgusting. But I do know that fox urine works. (01/02/2007)

Mice Nesting In My Car

You can also mix peppermint oil with alcohol and spray in cars, on carpet, on engines even though the cotton ball would probably last longer in the engine because of the heat. Also can be used indoors in cabinets and basements, garages, etc. (04/15/2007)

By Mattie

Mice Nesting In My Car

Mothballs are very toxic to human beings I would not recommend using them in a enclosed area like a car, not even in the engine. (04/15/2007)

By Mattie

Mice Nesting In My Car

Just a note for the people with mice in their cars. If you park your car in the garage and store dog food in the garage also, the dog food attracts the mice. Once they are in the garage, the nice warm engine does the rest. Food and a warm place to sleep. Isn't that what we all want. Get rid of the dog food or put it in an air tight container and remove all spills. (06/05/2007)

By Karl

Mice Nesting In My Car

Just trapped a mouse in my new Toyota Matrix using an old fashioned spring trap (with extra old cheddar). Other approaches did not work. She was cleaning out tissue in the car and building a nest in the airbox. Turning on the AC each morning would create a wedding effect.

I don't know how it entered, but I am now parking the car away from a wood pile where I suspect there is a large colony. I would have preferred a more humane method, but I am worried about the airborne disease possibility.
(07/18/2007)

By Richard in Coldwater

Mice Nesting In My Car

I tried peppermint essential oil on cotton balls and the mice just play with them. I have 2 mice (I think) that are too smart to be caught. They run "around" traps of any kind and they boldly "play" in the kitchen. These are baby field mice, not rats or anything, just smart mice.

Back to peppermint, they seem to actually either like it, or they're attacking the cotton ball. It doesn't deter a thing, matter of fact, it gives them something to play with. The only thing that has worked for me is trapping. I keep the house very clean and when they get super hungry I lure them across the counter with peanut butter cookie crumbs to fall off the edge into an empty trash pail. I have caught 2 this way and another with a chocolate donut.

Sticky traps are okay. You can help them get off them with baby oil once you have caught them. Just remember to let them go in a place they can find food or they will find their way home. Also, mice follow the scent of their droppings. If you can do your best to remove droppings regularly, they get lost. (10/20/2007)

By O

Mice Nesting In My Car

I have heard of panty hose with cedar chips in them. (11/18/2008)

Mice Nesting In My Car

I am really thankful for this website, because I thought I was the only one having this problem. Last Tuesday I brought my car into the garage for its annual oil change, etc. and they found 1/4 of my air filter had been gouged out and there were 2 field mice and a messy nest on the top of my engine. Well my engine light came on so back into the garage today and in one week's time 3 field mice had gouged out the lining of my hood and made another large ghastly looking nest. Once again the engine area had to be cleaned.

I have seen the D-Con packets and I am going to try them and I will let all of you know how this works. (12/17/2008)

By Dottie

Mice Nesting In My Car

Check out this link. It seems that Joan also finds it useful, so maybe you will too? It's a pain, but I would say worth it. hastingsreserve.org

Post By Joan (Guest Post) (10/14/2008)

Mice Nesting In My Car

There is a product designed for this problem. It is called Fresh Cab and is used to keep mice and rats out of farm equipment cabs, closets, basements, cabinets, etc. I use it in my motor home and it works very well. Do an internet search to find it. It gives off an odor that smells like a Christmas tree, and rodents will leave any area where it is used. (10/27/2009)

By rob

Mice Nesting In My Car

I've been dealing with these rodents for years now. They are a pain. I disagree with the post by c.j cox. There is no being nice when it comes to these things. I live in the country and have to deal with them as soon as it becomes cold out. The only way I have found to get rid of them is to set out traps. Get two pieces of cardboard that you can reuse throughout the winter. Cut them big enough to fit on your floor. Put two in a couple nights a week or more if you see droppings.

You do not want to poison them. They will go back to their nests and die in some remote spot in your car. Be proactive. Don't be lazy and wait until it's months into winter. They will come back every single year. My next idea is the mice alarms they have. The sound that drives them away. I haven't found one built for a car yet. That's probably going to be the best invention yet. I thought about buying a house one and plugging it in and shutting the door on the cord. I might try that. If it works I will post again. However, using old school traps I have been able to keep my cars smelling normal and to prevent any big nests from being formed. (12/09/2009)

By GW