BHPian Ptero recently shared this with other enthusiasts: Hi everyone! I actually stumbled into this site while searching for alternative driving routes…but what really caught my attention was all the discussion on how to keep rats and mice out of cars. Having spent decades in the pest control industry in the U.S., I thought I’d jump in and share some tips that might save you time, money, and frustration. In fact I’m writing an article on this now. Let’s Bust Some Myths First. There are a ton of products out there that promise to keep rodents away-peppermint oil, camphor, vinegar, lavender oil, mothballs, even high-tech ultrasonic devices. You’ll also see things like anti-rodent sprays and sticky “rodent-proof” tapes for wires. None of these have been proven to work long-term. Strong smells (garlic, herbal oils, tobacco, mothballs) might be unpleasant to us, but rodents get used to them very quickly. When food or shelter is on the line, a bad smell won’t stop them. Ultrasonic gadgets? Research shows they fail within days-rodents simply adapt. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has even taken action against companies making false claims about these devices. In some cases, these so-called remedies even cause new problems, like attracting other pests or leaving your car with a strong, lingering odor. Here are practical, effective steps you can take to make your car a whole lot less inviting to rodents: 1.Choose Your Parking Spot Wisely. Avoid leaving your car near garbage piles, dense vegetation, or areas with visible rodent burrows. These are prime rodent hangouts. 2.Keep It Clean. Never leave food, wrappers, or trash inside your car. Even pet food, crumbs, or dog droppings around the driveway can attract unwanted visitors. 3.Mix Up the Location. A parked car that sits for weeks is like a welcome mat for rodents. Simply moving your car regularly makes it harder for them to settle in. 4.Do Regular Under-the-Hood Checks. Pop the hood once in a while to check for droppings, shredded material, or nests. Cleaning under the bonnet removes urine and droppings that act like “welcome signs” to other rodents. 5.If your car is stored indoors (like a garage), try leaving the hood open. Opening the hood allows heat to dissipate and increases light exposure, reducing the sense of shelter that rodents seek. 6.Snap traps, glue boards, and multi-catch traps are highly effective. Dr. Robert Corrigan, a world famous rodentologist, collects vintage cars. When I asked him how he protects his cars from rats and mice his advice was to place snap traps around the tires and under the hood. Rodents often climb tires using the treads like ladders. Dr. Corrigan uses six traps in total: two positioned under the hood and one at each wheel base on the ground. While this requires a few extra minutes to remove and reset before you drive the car out, it is a straightforward and highly effective strategy, when you store cars for long periods of time.Trapping them before they enter inside the car can make a huge difference. 8.For persistent problems, tamper-proof bait stations with rodenticides can be placed along rodent runways or under the hood. Always handle with care, especially around children and pets. I always keep a few under the bonnet when I park for car for long periods of time 9.Products like RatMat (from Killgerm, UK) use interlocking tiles around your car that deliver a mild electric shock. Think of it as an invisible electric fence for your car-very effective in garages or storage settings. You may even be able to build your own using a battery. Farmers in the US often use their own DYI set up around farm machinery like tractors. Just remember that rodents are resourceful creatures but with a smart combination of sanitation, movement, inspections, lighting, traps, and barriers, you can drastically reduce the chance of finding chewed wires or nests in your car. With a little proactive effort, you can keep your car rodent-free and avoid costly repairs. Cheers, Dr. Anil Menon (Entomologist) Here’s whatBHPian Pterohad to say on the matter:It is virtually impossible to plug all the entry points for rats and mice. Especially in a garage situation. These critters can enter through an opening as small as 1/4-inch hole for mice and about 1/2 to 3/4-inch for a rat. If the skull can be squeezed in the rest of the body (just skin and internal organs) can easily squeeze through. We used to do the pencil test at food facilities to try and seal all entry points for rodents. If a pencil can fit in the hole, a rodent can easily squeeze through.Here’s whatBHPian sumeethaldankarhad to say on the matter:My car was washed the other day by my FNG during its service last Thursday. My garage guy said diesel was used and it would repel rodents. Today in the morning I opened the hood and saw some small droppings so I guess diesel does not help much.Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.
