Mice in Heater

[Count Desmondo]

Also had mice in mine while at a campground.

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[MrJ1s]

Has anyone determined if they are able to enter through the vents behind the rear seats ??

I saw one post in RANGER5G that indicated that they could get in from the rear vent(s) behind the rear seats. I believe that they could given how soft and pliable the "flappers" are, it takes nothing to push or pull or wiggle around them.

My mouse infestation points included;

1). Top of cabin filter
2). Console under shifter boot
3). Console under E-Brake boot
4). Back of driver's seat cover on rear seat/foot well side.
5). Headliner behind cabin light
6). Remnants that included feces, urine and seeds behind the rear seats and under the storage bins beneath the rear seat.

I spent many hours finding all of these points of infestation so I was obsessed with a "Never again" attitude. The stench was nearly intolerable for me and totally intolerable for my girlfriend who has a little known condition called 'Hyperosmia';

"A person with Hyperosmia has a heightened sense of smell. When someone has Hyperosmia, they can experience smells more strongly than other people. This strong sense of smell may lead a person with Hyperosmia to experience discomfort and illness from certain odors."

Beyond this my girlfriend is also a retired Physicians Assistant. The extent of the infestation and the filth left behind was a major health concern to her given her health care experience and to me after she told me of the diseases mice can carry.

Cleaning up after these creatures included many inventive ways to create smaller hose attachments for my vacuum cleaners to suck up the turds and leftover seed shells. Then came the disinfectants and odor neutralizers.

My girlfriend is finally warming up to the idea of getting back into the truck which is good news for me! I have spent the last few months "flying" right seat in her Outback.

Attached are pictures of my prevention measures that include before and after pictures of the cabin rear wall pressure relief vent on the driver's side. The passenger side opening had a "blank" in the opening so no sealing measures were necessary.

 

[onthejob]

I had a red squirrel try and set up shop inside of the passenger cabin. How the hell did he get in??? Is there an air intake for the HVAC they can crawl up into? If so, I want to put some wire mesh to block their entrance. He ripped apart my cabin filter and filled my blower and glove box with nuts.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

This is about the only way to keep them out…

 

[NotBudule2]

Female most likely, and she wants stuff from you, that makes her a

Sorry...

 

[AzScorpion]

I had a red squirrel try and set up shop inside of the passenger cabin. How the hell did he get in??? Is there an air intake for the HVAC they can crawl up into? If so, I want to put some wire mesh to block their entrance. He ripped apart my cabin filter and filled my blower and glove box with nuts.

John, there are numerous thread on this with mice and rats entering the cabin. I'll merge this with another thread so you can look through the posts for a few fixes.

 

[VAMike]

I had a red squirrel try and set up shop inside of the passenger cabin. How the hell did he get in??? Is there an air intake for the HVAC they can crawl up into?

Yes, Ford saved approximately 5 cents per truck by not putting a screen on the air intake under the hood. It was a big win for whoever got the bonus.

 

[LostMy65]

I forgot about doing this fix.
I think I'm smelling that funky musty mouse nest smell.
I'll check tomorrow and post pics.

 

[SigOris]

How do I keep mice from entering our heater? Cannot figure out how they are getting in.

If only 303 had a product. What say you @AzScorpion

 

[AzScorpion]

If only 303 had a product. What say you @AzScorpion

Good call!

 

[subquark]

Has anyone determined if they are able to enter through the vents behind the rear seats ??

I know some here have also added hardware cloth to those rear vents.

I have yet to install the hardware cloth I bought and yet to try the bittering agent I got.

Only been using peppermint, cinnamon, and capsaicin with seemingly okay results. They only chewed on my battery blanket once. I also leave the hood open in the driveway from time to time and routinely blow out the engine.

BUT ... I still get a few acorn shells out every time I use the air gun ....

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