Mice in Prius C

Solution: seal off the air intake opening

I have been dealing with mice in my 2015 Prius C four for quite some time. When I first suspected that I had an issue, I tried a live-catch trap. I placed it in the back hatch area and, after two weeks without success, caught four mice all at once. I thought that they were so cute that I made a video of my releasing them at a lake a few miles away from my home. I left the live trap in the back hatch area and have caught a few more over the course of a the last year and a half, or so.

As my Prius C is my first new car in 20 years, I am really invested in keeping it "like-new" for as long as possible. Due to the mice issue, I keep my vehicle clean (i.e., OCD clean) in order to be able to quickly observe evidence of their presence. I have found poop in the cabin air filter and on the floor mats, but fortunately no damage from chewing. I got serious--and educated--about this issue after their odor started to became an issue. (I started biking to work in February 2018, and only drove my vehicle a few times per week; and when I did I started to notice a slight, but unpleasant odor.)

I researched this issue online and also purchased a two-day subscription to the Toyota Technical Information System (TIS). I reviewed the 2015 Prius C Repair Manual, particularly the chapters on Interior Panels & Trim. I learned how to remove the interior panels. I spent the better part of a Sunday removing most of the panels and disinfecting. In the process, I discovered three nests and two live mice. Unfortunately, the two mice scampered away and I could not catch them.

Now, highly motivated, I resorted to snap traps. After a few days without success, I added sticky traps (all on the floor mats and in the back hatch -- 14 traps total). I put mothballs on the top of my tire treads (...until I learned that it is illegal to do so!) and got a peppermint oil diffuser. I checked my vehicle each day for an entire week. I continued to find poop in my air filter and could hear them moving around in my headliner, but I could not catch them.

This past weekend, I removed the L and R windshield wipers, L and R front fender to cowl side seals, and the cowl top ventilator louver sub-assembly. This requires that you disengage the washer hose, but overall, the process is not difficult. Removal of these items allows access to the air intake opening (see white arrow in first picture). I covered the air intake with two layers of 1/4" galvanized wire mesh. I fastened the lower edge with screws and then sealed all of the edges with silicone caulk.



The same evening, I caught the two mice. I think that they had been entering and exiting through the air intake and, because they could not exit to obtain food and water, they finally went for the peanut butter in the snap and glue traps. It was horrifying to kill them, but also a relief. Now, hopefully, I've removed all of the mice from the interior of my vehicle. The next task is to keep them out! I hope that the air intake is the only access point to the interior of the vehicle.

I would like to hear from others who have found success in dealing with this issue.

 

We have an open carport.

 

I appreciate the steel wool recommendation. Will do. Thank you!

 

I agree with you -- there will always be rodents around, looking for warmth and shelter. I appreciate your suggestion and understand that it will be an ongoing issue. Thanks!