Taylor Bryant
“Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring”…except for the garage mouse.
Rodents, while mostly small, pack a destructive punch to humanity historically speaking. They have a body count of over 10 million people in the last century, mostly due to spread of disease.
The little wretches can also cause severe damage to your automobile. From burrowing into carpets and upholstery to chewing through costly wiring harnesses, mice and other rodents can cause thousands of dollars of repairs and sometimes even a total loss.
While working as an auto technician, I would see rodent damage all the time.
Normally, it would be due to someone parking their car for an extended period. When a car sits, especially in rural areas, rodents will find homes in them wherever they can. Car interiors, wiper cowls, HVAC air boxes and engine compartments make great mice apartments.
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Rodents also have a need to chew to keep their teeth from growing too long, and that is where most of the trouble begins. The last infestation I repaired cost over $10,000 to fix and required the entire wiring harness to be replaced, involving the almost total disassembly of the vehicle. I have also seen where the repairs have exceeded the value of the car.
Being animals of opportunity, rodents will find shelter wherever they can, so making it more difficult for them to find homes in your car is the only way to deter this type of damage. What can you do? Parking in a sealed garage away from food sources is the best answer, but if that is not possible, there are other ways.
Certain strong smells will deter nesting and rodents will set up residence elsewhere if such an odor is present. Moth balls, strong soaps like Irish Spring and cleaners such as Pine Sol have been used for years by the motorhome community to keep them out. Placing sachet bags of soap chips and mothballs in your engine compartment and wiper cowl work great while in storage.
Treating the seals around the doors, hood and trunk with a spritz of Pine Sol may also deter the trespassers.
Keeping the area around the vehicle clutter free and clean will also help. Never leave any trash cans or rubbish piles around the car. Make sure that leaves and debris are cleared from the area. Never leave food items inside the vehicle, as that is a good way to attract rodents and ants.
If it is possible, move the car every few days to another location.
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If you do find any evidence of a rodent in or around your vehicle, make sure to clean the area of any fur, droppings or urine. Also ensure you have protective gear on, such as gloves and respirators so as to not get sick from rodent carried illnesses.
If you find damage to wiring or hoses on the car, it is best to get it towed to a qualified automotive technician for evaluation. Trying to start or drive the vehicle may cause further damage or even a fire. The good news is comprehensive car insurance will cover the damages, less the deductible.
If all this fails and you still get an infestation, get a cat!
Many animal shelters have “barn cat,” an adoption program that places spayed or neutered outdoor cats in rural areas for pest prevention purposes. Cats are proven to reduce vermin in and around the outdoor areas they live. Just be sure to take care of your furry buddy and they will take care of you!
As for me, I will see you on the road!
Taylor Bryant is an automotives instructor for Augusta Technical College.
