Dirty rotten rodents in my T2

[danielj]

Putting this in the bodywork and chassis section as it's not a mechanical or electrical problem--its a bloody rodent infestation problem. The T2 was not used for a few days this week and was parked out in front of the house. When I got in to head off to church this morning the first thing I noticed was that the two coffee cups I had in the drinks holder had the plastic caps shredded. Had a look around the rest of the interior and sure enough there was rodent droppings on the floor between the second and third row of seats. Also signs of nibbling on a wrapped chocolate biscuit one of the kids dropped down the side of the rear seats. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the severly cold weather the last few nights that is driving the rodents to seek some place inside. But never had this problem with any vehicle before. But it is serious as I use the T2 for family transport and have three child seats in it permantntly. Youngest is less than a year old and oldest is under 6. It is far too risky to have them in a confined space where rodent droppings etc could easily come into contact with childrens skin. And I can't steam clean the whole inside of the jeep every time I need to use it. Anyone any ideas where exactly the rodents might be getting in and how I might keep them out. outside

 

[jims-terrano]

Little Nipper old fashioned mouse traps with a piece of chocolate or biscuit as bait, if the mouse nicks the bate without setting the trap then use some double sided tape on the platform to snap the little sod on.
Then use one of those disinfectant sprays like you would use in the kitchen. Also use the antibaterial gel on hands too. Once you've caught it and it probably is one surely give car a good clean and learn the lesson don't leave food or packages knocking around the car. Must say tho you've been unlucky and you're right to be cautious about the germs.

Jim T

 

[danielj]

Thanks for that. To be honest my fear is that it is not mice but rats. We are in a country location and rats are not uncommon from time to time. But will try the traps and should know which rodent type it is soon enough. I did stuff a sheltered container with rodent poison between the inside of the back wheel and body panel under the wheel arch on the outside at the back wheel for the night. Fair point about keeping the crumbs and food bits cleaned up but it can be a bit of a challange with 5 small kids making it their business to do the opposite. Will get busy with the disinfectant spray in the morning.

 

[makeitfit]

I wonder if the little buggers are getting in through the air flaps at the back behind the bumper?
They'd still have to get past the side panels though:augie
Have you got any damaged bits of trim at the back?

 

[jims-terrano]

I know just what you mean with the kids leaving their mess, I've got 3 of em:thumbs. OK so how big are the droppings you've found, big size difference between rats and mice. If you do suspect a rat then I'd probably get the doors open and start giving the car a good clean out and bang around the carmove seats and cupboards that'll move and with a bit of luck what ever it is will get out quick. Just trying to work out if there's any holes big enough for a rat?

Until your sure it's gone I'd be disinfecting often.

Jim T

 

[tezzer]

there after food daniel, clean the car out, i know what mess kids make lol

then buy one of those deterents for caravans etc, some sort of sonic devise, runs off 9v battery, that will stop them the little buggers.:thumbs

 

[lacroupade]

the little beggars can get through the tiniest gap though.....and you'll have even more fun if they start chewing through the wiring, which they often do. I'd check you haven't got a nest anywhere.....

 

[danielj]

I wonder if the little buggers are getting in through the air flaps at the back behind the bumper?
They'd still have to get past the side panels though:augie
Have you got any damaged bits of trim at the back?

I don't think so as it hasn't really ever got too much of a beating and the trim and panels have very few defects, although it is a 00 model and would have some normal wear and tear. Will have a look in the morning. Would they be coming up through the front from the engine compartment somewhere.

 

[tezzer]

put a cat in there, that will sort them out.:lol

 

[danielj]

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I'm thinking it may be a rat because the plastic tops of the disposable coffee cups were fairly shredded. Seen rats to do that sort of shredding of stiffer plastic but not mice. droppins were larger than rice grains. Thought about the cat idea but last cat we had only stayed with us a few hours because they dog is a bone head and terrified him. Don't know if I wan't a cat leaving leaving deposits all over the seats either. Might open the doors and leave the dog root around inside as he was smelling around the front of the car this afternoon with his tail in the air.

 

[lacroupade]

We commonly have mice in our place in France, specially in winter - is a very old house and impossible to sea - they shred just about anything!

One year I turned up to find a rats nest in one of the beds - hate them with a passion. I locked the door and blocked up the gaps, then spent the next three days killing them one by one with a 3x2.....very satisfying! But it made a bit of a blood and guts mess that she-who-must-be-obeyed wasn't too impressed with!!! LOL

 

[danielj]

We commonly have mice in our place in France, specially in winter - is a very old house and impossible to sea - they shred just about anything!

One year I turned up to find a rats nest in one of the beds - hate them with a passion. I locked the door and blocked up the gaps, then spent the next three days killing them one by one with a 3x2.....very satisfying! But it made a bit of a blood and guts mess that she-who-must-be-obeyed wasn't too impressed with!!! LOL

I'm a bit encouraged to hear of the shredding capibilities of mice. We also had some rats in the house last winter when it was as cold as it is now. Likewise blocked up any holes I could find and waited until I could hear scratching and rooting in one of the rooms and went chasing with a heavy stick. Bugger I got took a bit of a beating though and had to chase him up the stairs to finish off the job. Must say the missus was impressed because at least we got the bugger. Problem was seems one or more must have got trapped inside the walls someplace when we sealed the holes and there was an awful smell in the upstairs bathroom for months.

 

[zippy656]

careful with the rodent poison, if it dies inside a panel ....


oh the smell!


trap be a better option in this case me things

 

[Darwin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat-shot

 

[lacroupade]

One thing we did try in the french house with great success, although it works best if you leave it for three months while back in the UK, as getting them off inj one opiece is a bugger - mouse glue. You just squeeze out a big circle of it and put something tasty in the middle!

Its vile stuff and really works but my conscience (a.k.a. Mrs L) only let me use it the once - when I went back there was mummy mouse and half a dozen babies, all starved to death :augie

 

[supertaff]

Course, you could always have a look around and see if you can find Paul's Bronze Rat

 

[harlowmaverick]

i am just waiting for adz to drop by and offer to shoot it for you lolololol:thumbs

 

[lacroupade]

Nah, knowing Adz it would another Texas Chainsaw Moussacre - ouch:doh

 

[lacroupade]

Or Liam would come along and sing "Its a rat trap, and you bin caught..."

Oh god help me!!!!:doh:doh:doh

 

[danielj]

careful with the rodent poison, if it dies inside a panel ....


oh the smell!


trap be a better option in this case me things

No need to worry about the poison. They didn't touch it. Got a brainwave last night and decided to run an extension lead from the house to the car and plug in one of those electronic pest repellers and leave it in the car for the day. Brainwave didn't seem so great tonight as there was some new droppings inside the car. traps in there now for the night. I like the idea of the glue trap stuff.