Mice!!

[Archer88]

There are threads covering this very issue.

But to answer your question - The Cowl & The Rear Exhaust Vents are the entry points.
Just search through the threads:

Here is my added screen, just a drywall sanding screen - tapped in place

They get into this area from the - Cowl Drains on each side of the cowl.

Thanks for the information about the cowl drains. New information for me. Now I can get into the space beneath that cowl with a plan. All the best. Henri

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[Trustable]

Winter is almost here, I’m seeing and trapping mice after a few months with no activity in the garage. This time I’m ready I hope. Gonna pull out the seatbacks and cowl tomorrow to se show everything has held up.

 

[Archer88]

Thanks. I could not see how they get into that space. I did not want to remove the cowl just to explore. Now I know there are two drainage holes that mice use to enter the space beneath the cowl. Thanks again!

Winter is almost here, I’m seeing and trapping mice after a few months with no activity in the garage. This time I’m ready I hope. Gonna pull out the seatbacks and cowl tomorrow to se show everything has held up.

I was catching mice 3 to 4 a week in the cabin. Lifted the cowl, put some wire mesh held in place w rare earth magnets & have not seen a mouse in two weeks. It is colder now too. Finally ever since I got this Ranger. Hoping they won't find a new way to get in. ?

 

[Tom_C]

We are finally finishing a house, and it's exterior is completely concrete block so it's as close to zero maintenance as it could get. Of course its split-face block, so it doesn't look like a prison, but, anyway. And, it has windows and doors, and therefore, those little bastards still get in! I haven't yet gone around in search of voids, cause I know there's openings where, for example, we haven't finished a patio, as example, so once a critter gets into the core of the block then it's a maze of openings for them to get inside.

I'd be perfectly happy to co-exist with the rodents if they'd just stay outside. Once inside, well, you brought your fate on yourself.

 

[MrJ1s]

There are threads covering this very issue.

But to answer your question - The Cowl & The Rear Exhaust Vents are the entry points.
Just search through the threads:

Here is my added screen, just a drywall sanding screen - tapped in place

They get into this area from the - Cowl Drains on each side of the cowl.

airline tech

I just want to thank you for all of the information you have provided on this issue. The infestation in my truck was severe. I have a couple of posts with pictures of my finds and resolutions many of which are very similar to yours so thank you again for your pics and explanations.

I placed traps in my garage this afternoon and it only took an hour to catch one. I have two live traps and two snap traps in place. I expect my trap line will be busy tonight as the temps fall in Central Wisconsin. It is near impossible to tighten up or eliminate entry points around my overhead door and those of us with experience on this matter know how small of a hole they can pass through. An interesting nugget of information on mice and their collar bones/clavicles;

Key points about mice and collar bones:

Rudimentary clavicles:
While technically present in mice, their collar bones are often very small and underdeveloped, making them almost non-functional.

Evolutionary advantage:
The lack of substantial collar bones gives mice a greater range of motion in their shoulders, which is important for navigating their environment, especially when squeezing into small openings.

FWIW to anyone following this thread, get every bag of seed that they might find edible out of your garage and clean up any seed that may have spilled out when they gnawed through the bags. In my case they were packing their cheeks and storing their booty in my truck so they could dine on it later. Believe me, after the feast mice do not go outside to relieve themselves.

Also worth addressing, get any moving pads, blankets and towels out of your garage. You are only providing fluff for them to bed in if they get into your garage and truck if you have not installed the mesh countermeasures on your HVAC firewall inlets or the vent behind the rear seat.

Good luck all, spray your mint or install your ultrasonic emitters, I tried the former and I think the mice laughed at me.

Take the leap and do the mesh.

 

[Trustable]

I was catching mice 3 to 4 a week in the cabin. Lifted the cowl, put some wire mesh held in place w rare earth magnets & have not seen a mouse in two weeks. It is colder now too. Finally ever since I got this Ranger. Hoping they won't find a new way to get in. ?

Make sure to check the vents behind the rear seats. I was able to confirm it a point of entry last year. I think I have some posts in here about it. I did hardware cloth over it but someone actually put a piece of aluminum or steel on it. His solution looks way better.

 

[MrJ1s]

Make sure to check the vents behind the rear seats. I was able to confirm it a point of entry last year. I think I have some posts in here about it. I did hardware cloth over it but someone actually put a piece of aluminum or steel on it. His solution looks way better.

I did the vent behind the rear seat back with aluminum gutter guard that I purchased at my local Menards. I only had to do the driver's side, the passenger side is a solid blank on my '21 XLT. The screen is held in place with weatherproof cable ties that are wrapped around the vent slats at the corners.

 

[MrJ1s]

I was catching mice 3 to 4 a week in the cabin. Lifted the cowl, put some wire mesh held in place w rare earth magnets & have not seen a mouse in two weeks. It is colder now too. Finally ever since I got this Ranger. Hoping they won't find a new way to get in. ?

How bad was the smell in your truck? The smell in my truck was so bad this summer that my girlfriend insisted that we use her car to go anywhere. She is a retired Physician Assistant (PA) so germs were an issue too because of the diseases mice can carry.

She is back to riding in it now that I have it mouse proofed. Their nests, seed stashes, dining areas and "outhouses" have been vacuumed/removed and disinfected. It took hours to find and get rid of them. Beyond the seat backs, console, under the rear seat storage bins and plenum above the cabin filter I had a huge nest in the headliner ?‍

 

[Archer88]

Vents behind the rear seats???? There are vents somewhere there? I have no idea where to look on my 2021 Ranger. I can flip the bottom seat up & the upper part of the rear seat down. There are vents somewhere behind there?

How bad was the smell in your truck? The smell in my truck was so bad this summer that my girlfriend insisted that we use her car to go anywhere. She is a retired Physician Assistant (PA) so germs were an issue too because of the diseases mice can carry.

She is back to riding in it now that I have it mouse proofed. Their nests, seed stashes, dining areas and "outhouses" have been vacuumed/removed and disinfected. It took hours to find and get rid of them. Beyond the seat backs, console, under the rear seat storage bins and plenum above the cabin filter I had a huge nest in the headliner ?‍

Good question!!! Oh boy that smell!!!? My Ranger is spotless on the inside & no food either. The mice still came. I had the same problem of not wanting to ride in the vehicle with my wife. It stunk too much. Had to drive w open windows. I cleaned out the cabin filter several times, got rid of bodies & acorns on the blower & there was even a nest in the cavity below the rear seat. I vacuumed their debris out.

They were also on the engine air filter. I put mesh over the air scoop of the engine. Otherwise that scoop was a slide for them right to the filter. Argh...

I had a huge nest on the battery & they used the hood liner as nesting material. I got rid of that liner!

Now I pop the hood for a quick inspection daily.

I used baking soda to absorb the odour, used peppermint to sweeten the air too. Cleaned cleaned & cleaned some more.

I had trouble w another vehicle where they build a nest on the gas tank destroying all the wires connected to the tank. Vehicle would not start. $300 later ok. Hoping they don't pull the same trick this winter.

Now no more mice in the Ranger cabin for now.

Vent behind back seat is another entry point someone was saying. My back seat area looks nothing like the pic he showed. I guess different year than my 2021.

 

[Tom_C]

Vents behind the rear seats???? There are vents somewhere there? I have no idea where to look on my 2021 Ranger. I can flip the bottom seat up & the upper part of the rear seat down. There are vents somewhere behind there?

Vent behind back seat is another entry point someone was saying. My back seat area looks nothing like the pic he showed. I guess different year than my 2021.

I have a 2020 scab, and the vents are behind the seat backs. I don't know how to get your seat back off, but there should be a vent on either side. The vent 'cover' on mine is nothing more than a little paper/fabric flap if I recall correctly.

 

[airline tech]

Vents behind the rear seats???? There are vents somewhere there? I have no idea where to look on my 2021 Ranger. I can flip the bottom seat up & the upper part of the rear seat down. There are vents somewhere behind there?

Good question!!! Oh boy that smell!!!? My Ranger is spotless on the inside & no food either. The mice still came. I had the same problem of not wanting to ride in the vehicle with my wife. It stunk too much. Had to drive w open windows. I cleaned out the cabin filter several times, got rid of bodies & acorns on the blower & there was even a nest in the cavity below the rear seat. I vacuumed their debris out.

They were also on the engine air filter. I put mesh over the air scoop of the engine. Otherwise that scoop was a slide for them right to the filter. Argh...

I had a huge nest on the battery & they used the hood liner as nesting material. I got rid of that liner!

Now I pop the hood for a quick inspection daily.

I used baking soda to absorb the odour, used peppermint to sweeten the air too. Cleaned cleaned & cleaned some more.

I had trouble w another vehicle where they build a nest on the gas tank destroying all the wires connected to the tank. Vehicle would not start. $300 later ok. Hoping they don't pull the same trick this winter.

Now no more mice in the Ranger cabin for now.

Vent behind back seat is another entry point someone was saying. My back seat area looks nothing like the pic he showed. I guess different year than my 2021.

The vents are behind the carpet or AKA Loadspace Trim Panel, all Ranger's will have them.
Now some report only having 1 functional and it is covered up.
You can also see them with a flashlight looking between the cab and the bed.

Borrowed Pic:

 

[Archer88]

The vents are behind the carpet or AKA Loadspace Trim Panel, all Ranger's will have them.
Now some report only having 1 functional and it is covered up.
You can also see them with a flashlight looking between the cab and the bed.

Borrowed Pic:

Thanks for taking the trouble to show this. I will look more closely. Those black vent opening are beneath other parts I have to remove looks like. Really appre

The vents are behind the carpet or AKA Loadspace Trim Panel, all Ranger's will have them.
Now some report only having 1 functional and it is covered up.
You can also see them with a flashlight looking between the cab and the bed.

Borrowed Pic:

 

[Trustable]

Vents behind the rear seats???? There are vents somewhere there? I have no idea where to look on my 2021 Ranger. I can flip the bottom seat up & the upper part of the rear seat down. There are vents somewhere behind there?

Good question!!! Oh boy that smell!!!? My Ranger is spotless on the inside & no food either. The mice still came. I had the same problem of not wanting to ride in the vehicle with my wife. It stunk too much. Had to drive w open windows. I cleaned out the cabin filter several times, got rid of bodies & acorns on the blower & there was even a nest in the cavity below the rear seat. I vacuumed their debris out.

They were also on the engine air filter. I put mesh over the air scoop of the engine. Otherwise that scoop was a slide for them right to the filter. Argh...

I had a huge nest on the battery & they used the hood liner as nesting material. I got rid of that liner!

Now I pop the hood for a quick inspection daily.

I used baking soda to absorb the odour, used peppermint to sweeten the air too. Cleaned cleaned & cleaned some more.

I had trouble w another vehicle where they build a nest on the gas tank destroying all the wires connected to the tank. Vehicle would not start. $300 later ok. Hoping they don't pull the same trick this winter.

Now no more mice in the Ranger cabin for now.

Vent behind back seat is another entry point someone was saying. My back seat area looks nothing like the pic he showed. I guess different year than my 2021.

Remove the headrest on the rear seats. You should see a recess in the middle of the top of the seat back. I believe it is a 13 or 14 mm bolt to remove. After that the back pulls Out and up. On mine one vent is blocked off with a thick foam the other is functional. I’ll be removing the foam on the one and probably replacing with a sheet of aluminum like someone else did on here.

 

[Archer88]

Remove the headrest on the rear seats. You should see a recess in the middle of the top of the seat back. I believe it is a 13 or 14 mm bolt to remove. After that the back pulls Out and up. On mine one vent is blocked off with a thick foam the other is functional. I’ll be removing the foam on the one and probably replacing with a sheet of aluminum like someone else did on here.

THX for the tip!?

 

[FerdRanger]

arrrrg. second nest on the battery blanket. don’t think it ventured inside this time … nothing in my peanut butter trap

cut the shredded bed off the top. then moth balls and peppermint

just wanna warn yall. this time i heard seeds and nuts in da hood

bed and breakfast. ?

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