My cabin air filter was full of dog food!

[Dipena]

I just had my 15K service and apparently my cabin air filter was stuffed full of dog food. This is courtesy of the g.d. mice who live in my basement and steal and hoard from the big bag of dog food. I will try harder to keep them out of the dog food, but what can I do to keep them out of my Prius?

Thanks!
Dianne

[Patrick Wong]

Hi Dianne,

This is the best PriusChat advice on this subject:
MouseProofing the Prius

[Boo]

Dianne,

Lol, you have to see this thread and its pics and links:

http://priuschat.com/forums/fuel-eco...part-deux.html

Basically, you should screen off the 6 or so entrance holes that are beneath the plastic cowl under the windshield wipers. Here's a picture of my quick and dirty screening (when I have time I might replace it with good stuff -- wire screening installed with self-tapping screws):

[qbee42]

And kill the mice in your basement. You don't want them there.

Tom

[Shawn Clark]

Originally Posted by Dipena

I just had my 15K service and apparently my cabin air filter was stuffed full of dog food. This is courtesy of the g.d. mice who live in my basement and steal and hoard from the big bag of dog food. I will try harder to keep them out of the dog food, but what can I do to keep them out of my Prius?

Dianne,

My suggestions are:
1. Put the dog foodsack in a closed plastic bin of some type. This should cut some odor too, and that is probably attracting rodents.
2. Kill the mice. Cat's can handle this for you, but if you don't want to add the burden of another pet and aren't squeamish or morally conflicted traps work very well.
3. Look at the threads others have noted about the problem.

Good luck!

[Dipena]

Thanks, guys. Boo, that thread with the photos was hilarious. I guess I'm not alone in this problem.

The thing is...I have a cat. I know he kills things because he leaves the evidence on the back steps. I don't know why he's not taking care of business in the basement--he hangs out there quite a bit. I am kind of ticked off at him!

Now, that mouse-proofing business looks good but it is probably beyond my very limited mechanical abilities. But I will consider it. I really don't want those little mofos eating through my wires.

I guess I will start with putting some traps in my garage and of course enclosing the dog food.

[patsparks]

Traps work best right after the removal of the easy food source, I'd use a metal bin for the dog food if you can find one, mice will chew through a plastic container in a quiet basement over time.

Poisons work but must be contained away from dogs and small children. Once the dog food is contained put poison baits on a high shelf, mice will climb. I stick a used de-labelled cheese box on the shelf with blu-tac to prevent it falling off, the box has a small hole only big enough for the tip of my little finger to fit through, mice will make the hole bigger if it needs to be bigger. I wouldn't use poison baits with a large infestation because decaying mice stink and might be hard to find, trap to manageable levels (zero evidence of rodents) then poison baits to maintain that level.

[tochatihu]

Mouse proofing will keep them out of the ventilation system, where some smelly and expensive problems could occur. But the car is stil vulnerable to wire chewing so take all reasonable steps to create a rodent free zone for parking.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by tochatihu

Mouse proofing will keep them out of the ventilation system, where some smelly and expensive problems could occur. But the car is stil vulnerable to wire chewing so take all reasonable steps to create a rodent free zone for parking.

I agree.

Another way is to put or spray rodent repellent under the hood in the engine compartment to drive rodents away.

Personally, I put old fashion mothballs in a sock or tea ball and hang them under my hood. They are very effective. But mothballs evaporate quickly in heat or when exposed to heat, and therefore have to be replenished frequently. And because mothballs are very toxic, query how safe they are for humans to inhale.

Peppermint oil soaked in cotton balls are supposed to be effective too. They smell good and should be safe to inhale.

Another supposed repellant is fabric softener dryer sheets. They smell good, but I have no idea how effective they are.

In terms of spray-on rodent repellents, here's some of what I found on PriusChat and Google (the products are supposed to be natural, etc.):

1. Rataway spray-on repellent can be found at http://www.rataway.com/

2. Another spray-on repellent can be found at http://dreamingearth.com/natural-pest-control.htm

3. And PETA has a recipe for a homemade repellent (which cyberprius has used after seeing my prior postings of the recipe):

"People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) suggests the following on their website : "If the rats are in a place that cannot be 'rodent-proofed,' such as a car engine, you can prepare a deterrent. Rats and other small animals cannot tolerate the scent or taste of pepper. Make a mixture of salad oil, horseradish, garlic, and plenty of cayenne pepper. Let this mixture sit for four days, strain it into a spray bottle, and spray it under the car's hood. This is completely safe for engine interiors, and it won't harm curious animals. Mothballs and peppermint oil-soaked cotton balls are also great rodent repellents and can be tucked into an engine to prevent rodents from chewing on electrical wires."

Finally, if you ever incur serious damage from rodents chewing on your wires, cables or hoses, the comprehensive portion (if you have it) of your car insurance policy should cover this.

[KTPhil]

Originally Posted by Dipena

The thing is...I have a cat. I know he kills things because he leaves the evidence on the back steps. I don't know why he's not taking care of business in the basement--he hangs out there quite a bit. I am kind of ticked off at him!

You are overfeeding your cat if it does not chase and kill mice or rats. Time for a diet.