The Ultimate Guide: Prevent Rodents from Turning Your Car Into Their Cozy HOME

Just the words ‘rodents’, and ‘car engine’ in the same sentence is enough to send a chill up the spine of any vehicle owner. Not only is the sight of furry intruders’ nests under the hood a horrific and unappealing prospect, it can also potentially lead to considerable expense in damage repairs, as well. By being proactive and following the simple steps below, you can help stop pests from thinking that your vehicle is their next home sweet home. Here are six tips to help keep your car rodent-free.

Securing the Fortress: Seal All Entry Points to the HOME

Rodent repellant begins with fortification. They’re masters of the squeeze, capable of slipping through holes the size of a quarter to find a hidden niche under your hood. As such, the first step in protecting your car is to survey your vehicle for places where rodents might gain access. Scout around the hood, trunk and doors for potential entry points. Then stuff them shut with steel wool, caulk or expanding foam – treating your car as anything less than a fortress will only encourage rodents.

Declutter: The Cleaner, the Less Inviting to Rodents

Keep it free of clutter and you won’t be attracting any rodents, which tend to like cluttered garages for their hiding and nesting potential. Maintaining an area that’s free of debris and clutter goes a long way towards preventing rodent infestation. If you have pet food or bird seeds that need storing, these items can become attractive to rodents if not properly placed in containers impervious to their access. And finally, managing clutter amounts to ridding your garage of boxes and debris that a rodent might opt to nest in.

Mother Nature's Repellents: Keeping the HOME Safe

A family can also try natural repellents to ward off rodents safely and effectively:

• Peppermint Oil (Part II): Its powerfully unpleasant smell is a rodent repellent. Place cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil around the engine and at points of entry.
• Cayenne Pepper: A small sprinkle of this hot rodent repellent around the engine should discourage them from renting.
• Mothballs: Highly effective, but toxic and keep out of reach of children and pets.

Barrier Tactics: Install Rodent-Proof Screens

A good physical barrier keeps rodents away from your engine. A rodent-proof screen is available at many auto parts stores or they can be homemade, which is a fairly easy DIY project. But, why take a chance? They not only end up protecting your vehicle but also give a piece of mind.

Tech to the Rescue: Ultrasonic Repellent Devices

Mixing technology to the old problem are ultrasonic repellent gadgets, which are devices that can produce sound below the range of human hearing but very irritating to rodents. Some of them seem to work while others might not but they definitely do not use any kind of rodent poison or toxic chemicals. Overall, they are a humane and less harmful way to stop any rodent thinking of your car as its next rodent nidus.

Vigilance is Key: Regular Vehicle Inspections

As the old adage goes: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, always make it a point to check your car for evidence of rodent activity, namely droppings, nests or gnaw marks. This prophylactic, i.e. preventative measure, can often flag an issue before it bubbles into a full-blown infestation.

Understanding "HOME" in the Context of Rodents and Your Vehicle

This is why it’s important to fully grasp what a rodent's threshold for ‘home’ may be. For a rodents, 'home' is an area of woodwork that appears to provide shelter, warmth, and possible food. If your car (such as the engine compartment) appears to meet those requirements, then it’s offering a home for rodents. And we’ve explained why that’s a problem. Hopefully what you have read will convince you to put in place the preventive steps listed in this guide.

Your house is a long way away, there’s plenty of boxes and tires in this pile, and those shiny tin cans look like nice, comfortable bedding. Rather than messing with me, go pay attention to that shiny red vehicle over there! It would take too long to explain to him that it’s not so much about them doing something to you as it is about your life being fundamentally different from theirs – you have a home, they do not. Survival instincts send wild rodents on the hunt for a home, so when you make your vehicle an unappealing option through sealing entries, decluttering, using repellents, installing barriers and ultrasonic devices, and continuing to pay attention, your instincts work together with these wild animal instincts, pushing them towards a home elsewhere. With time, a well-chosen combination of deterrents and barriers, along with some regular vehicle maintenance and habitual vigilance, your car vents and other components can stay rodent-free, so that your car can continue turning beds into highways for many happy years to come.