Repelling rodents from a car

Repelling rodents from a car

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Discussion

iamed

Original Poster:

261 posts

173 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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My car has recently been written off due to damage by rodents chewing some of the wiring harness - the repairers wanted to replace the whole harness which was beyond economic repair.

Has anyone got any experience in using devices to help repel mice from cars?

Amazon has an ultrasonic device that can be wired up to the battery http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mardersicher-Ultra-electro... but its a german manufacturer and there's not much information about it. There are alkaline battery operated ultrasonic devices too, but I'm not convinced something like that will be powerful enough.

I live in the countryside with some farm buildings nearby. They recently had a change over of stock (chickens) and obviously the mice got evicted too and were looking for some shelter. I managed to trap the mouse within 12 hours of knowing it was in the car but the damage had already been done frown Obviously I will have to ensure the farm is doing more to keep the mice under control, but farms and vermin go together unfortunately. I will have traps set under the seats in the cars from now on too.

Any ideas would be gratefully received. Thank you!

PhillipM

6,515 posts

188 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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I think they call it 'a cat'

Madrabbit

218 posts

232 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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I'd be interested in a constructive answer to this too.
My rally car has been laid-up for a while.
It seems 'my' mice love rollcage padding and seat material. Luckily the seats are out of date!

iamed

Original Poster:

261 posts

173 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
quotequote all
PhillipM said:
I think they call it 'a cat'
I tried a cat but cleaning the litter tray everyday was tedious, and my passengers kept putting their feet in it.

PhillipM

6,515 posts

188 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
quotequote all
No, seriously, even if it's a neighbours you have to borrow, let it sleep in the car so it's scent is on all the seats. It won't stop them coming in if they're off the fields, but it might deter them from sticking around to nest in the wiring.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Saturday 31st January 2015
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I used an air pistol at close range.

They did not like it up 'em...

b2hbm

1,291 posts

221 months

Sunday 1st February 2015
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We also live in the country and it's just one of those things you have to put up with I'm afraid, they are everywhere.

If you're parking outside then the only thing you can do is put traps inside (under seats, boot space, etc) and try to find out how they're getting in. On our motorhome they got in by chewing through the gear lever gaiter and yep, they also chewed the wiring loom behind the dash. (I stopped thinking they were cute & cuddly little things at that point)

Inside a garage all you can do is seal up every hole you find and then put traps around the edges. I don't know how they do it, but we still catch a couple every week or so in the winter.

Brian

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

242 months

Friday 6th February 2015
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The ultrasonic things work, you can get battery powered ones too.

radical78

398 posts

143 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
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moth balls mice dont like the smell

jamieandthemagic

619 posts

191 months

Saturday 7th February 2015
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Car on axle stands, grease the axle stands.

Worked when I stored cars in a grain store, that the previous year, had the whole interior of 2cars as mouse houses.

MGJohn

10,203 posts

182 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
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Check the Air Filter Housing. Those rascally little Wood Mice store dozens of Hazel nuts etc in there.

I have a remote field where I sometimes leave a car for a period. Wood mice entered the boot somehow and reduced the Polystyrene spare wheel insert containing the Tools, Jack etc reducing it to a million balls of polystyrene. Perfect insulation for a nest.

Opened the boot to observe an "explosion" of little rascals all over the shop making a rapid escape. Easily about twenty there! Managed to catch one by the tail and see what species it was.

Must be hundreds about and explains why both Kestrels during the day, and Barn Owls at dusk, patrol the nearby area and occasionally drop down and catch one of these little rodents.

blitzracing

6,387 posts

219 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
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Rodents will get used to something that produces a constant ultrasound note, so you need one of the more complex ones that shift frequencies. They dont cost a lot- a good range here Ive used in the past:

http://www.brocott.co.uk/electronic-devices/pest-r...

or in your case I this is your best bet as you can run it off the car battery:

http://www.brocott.co.uk/electronic-devices/pest-r...

Edited by blitzracing on Sunday 8th February 18:22