Pest control

[Tbruz]

2004 Tahoe.
I've had to pop out the blower motor 6 times in the past two years due to mice/chipmunks using the blower housing as acorn storage.
Luckily its an easy R&R but its getting a little old and i'd really like to believe I'm smarter that a chipmunk......so I should be able to solve this once and for all
The traditional chemical deterrents, coyote pizz and hot pepper sauce is not an option for a blower motor here in the northeast. cant leave a dryer sheet in there for obvious reasons.
Any other suggestions appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Tbruz

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Where do you park your truck? Outside, or in a garage or some type of enclosure?

 

[Tbruz]

Vehicle is parked outside and gets used 4-6x per week. In winter months it gets used daily.
I added a few drops of peppermint oil after yesterdays(6th time) cleanout. smells nice, not too crazy overpowering and not toxic to humans- Let see if that works.
Thanks

 

[Joseph Garcia]

That's tough. I use a spray with a combination of oils in it, and I spray it around the engine compartment and firewall about once a week. But, my truck is housed in an enclosure, so I also use rodent poison in a pet-proof container within the enclosure.

 

[exp500]

When I did a frame off resto on my 87, I found the spot. There was an opening about 3/4 x2-1/2 at the bottom of front fender as a cowl water drain. Found some coarse heavy thick scotchbrite and folded it to fit.Was removable for leaves or whatever. Spearmint works too, but the oils quit working if it doesn't make your eyes water too. Snap traps (plastic) worked the best.

 

[bigdog9191999]

i have had cars i use daily even esp in winter that i kept finding acorns and stuff on the intake. havent found a real good way other than to set traps for them near the cars ad hope they find the bait food more interesting,

 

[thingraylinetah]

I found mouse droppings in my 2010 subaru forester passenger side floorboard. I found where it was coming in at and set a sticky trap. I went out the next morning and it was stuck to the trap. I had to kill the dang thing as I accidentally tore his leg off trying to remove him from the trap.

 

[George B]

Like others have said try to find the entry point. I am thinking along the top of the cowl.

 

[bill1013]

It's kinda off point, but I had a similar problem with little critters, like bats, opossums, raccoons and the like, getting into our dwellings through cracks, through the roofing eaves and vent holes of our dwellings and structures. It's one of the things you have to deal with when you live in the boonies. Hey! The critters want a warm, safe place to lay their heads too! But I digress. I got some steel fencing that had one inch squares along with metal screening. Don't use the plastic or synthetic as the little buggers eventually gnaw through it. I formed the screen to fit the opening, so it was behind the heavy metal fencing which was cut/formed to fit the opening. Also, I secured them together so they couldn't be separated. I did this with bendable, thin gauge wire. This made a physical barrier to keep the critters out and let the air circulate in. If you make it impossible to get in they will go elsewhere. It beats trying to trap or poison the little buggers as there are so many out there and you catch a few at first, but they will come back unless you block the places where they're getting in.

 

[S33k3r]

I thought I had responded to this thread, but it doesn't appear I did... Get a sonic rodent repellant and place that in your vehicle and see if it helps. It's very much like what some malls do to keep teenagers away -- play subsonic or supersonic tones that teens do not like.