I've been a feeling a little under the weather recently and as a result haven't been out in my car for a few days.

Today, as is normal with my coupe when not driven for a few days, the battery was flat. So I followed my normal routine of popping the bonnet and was just about to go and grab the jump leads when I noticed something unusual under on the bonnet.

Sitting in a neat little pile on the engine was a small mound of acorn shells...and if that wasn't bad enough where was mouse shit everywhere! The little blighters had been having a nut party and on closer inspection I found 3 other areas where nuts had been stored and then gorged.

Well I can tell you I was quickly out with my Henry and vacuumed up all the offending crap and nut litter. I fired up the battery again and went out for a spin to take my mind of things, but while I was out I starting wandering...might mister and misses mousey been nibbling through anything else other than the nuts?

Do mice eat wire and hoses and stuff?

Should I be worried about mice damage?

Anyone else had this happen?

Julia

lol

sorry, no help











still laughing....

Well, I'm glad it made you laugh anyway

Julia

Have a close look at the wiring, etc, as they will chew it.

If they're anything like rats, they love electrical cabling.

Also watch they don't get into the car, as they'll eat the seats, etc

Yes, you should be worried

another new coupe paranoia, those squeaks may not just be loose bits of trim!

Yes, er sorry. More the way you say it than what happened

lock a cat in the garage for a couple of days with the car windows down?

they also love the taste of anti freeze and brake fluid,does kill em though!

Use the C word

To deal with loose nuts I use a ratshit, at least I think that's how you spell it!

I'm not going to park near the oak tree anymore, and will start up a daily inspection for mouse droppings under the bonnet.

Quite frankly I'm surprised because we are surrounded by cats here. If the situation continues I will have to resort to anti freeze laced chocolate treats for them.

Thanks for advice chaps

Julia

Between salty chocolate digestive biscuits and anti-freeze laced chocolate treats, no wonder I'm putting weight on!


Uh-ho, tummy gurgling, I'll be right back.............

Just dont let them get into the cabin. I drove a truck about 2 years ago that had mice in it. Every morning i would get in and have to clear the droppings off the dash. The problem was the previous driver was a scruffy get and used the passenger side footwell as a rubbish dump (I may have done this occasionaly i admit) he howver emptied once a week if he remembered. As a result the mice moved in. Whne you were on your break sat reading the paper you could here little squeaks and rustles from behind the dashboard as they scurried around. I only saw one once when I saw a little mice face looking at me through the face level air vent. I quickly poped the heater fan on full hoping to blow him out but the little bugger just scampered off. Three weeks i drove that sh1t heap for then one day they were gone. The truck went a week later but i will never forget the furry little gits eating lumps out of the seats and curtains.

I sure hope the mouse wasn't using your cambelt as a hammock when you started driving the car!

My parents had mice in their shed. They ate through tennis rackets and teddy bears, the nutters. So it seems most things are game to them.

If only that had been the case I would be happy

Sadly today there is yet more mouse poop and nut litter, and although there doesn't seem to be any damage to wiring or hoses etc, the little shit head has been making a meal out of part of the underside covering to the bonnet.

Well apologies to all you animal lovers out there, but I have had to set a trap with chocolate and a metal spike.

Tomorrow I hope it will be RIP mister mousey.

Would it be crass to post a picture if I catch the blighter?

Julia

Harsh, very harsh!


Ooooh look chocol........

Rat poison is very effective at getting rid of mice, also it isn't as fast a process as a mouse trap. The extra time it takes for his death could give him time to reflect on the damage he's caused your car!

Get yourself a couple of "live capture mouse traps", homebase used to sell them and bait them with some cheese. That way you can catch the little beasts alive and release them!

Just be happy that the local mouse population appreciates that under the bonnet of a Coupé is the best place to eat your hard-searched Sunday Nut Roast. Well, without the roast bit.

Actually, do you think that they store the nuts under your bonnet, and then tuck into them when they are nice and toasted? Check that they haven't pinched any tomato ketchup or yoghurt dip from the kitchen too...

Thinking again - are you sure that the problem isn't squirrels? Storing their nuts in your car where it is nice and warm (particularly after a good run). Then when they wake up mid-hibernation, they know where the nuts are, don't have to do any digging to find them, and have a nice cosy warm corner to eat them in?

Apropos of this, a work colleague just pulled the undertray from his Fabia diesel turbo, and removed two kilos of acorns... he suspects squirrels.

There were a lot of cases in the Black Forest in Germany about ten years ago of Pine Martens taking a taste of the cabling in BMW an Mercs; both had major redesign to use plastics the Martens didn't like.

Ok, the deed is done.

This morning one very fat mouse was RIP in the trap I set on my battery with a piece of sticky chocolate

I did kind of feel bad for a few moments, but I think mister mousey got what he deserved.

Did he really except to use my car like a picnic area and open toilet and get away with it, eh?

Julia
aka 'Vermin Controller Extraordinaire'

You could profit from this though........ Thai snacks anyone?

NOOOOO!!! The poor mousey!!!

Ah well, I suppose he got what was coming, it was either you or him.