Pack Rats in my new Prius cabin!!

there are threads here detailing gen 3, not sure about 4. might be worth a read and looking to see if the entrances are similar. not an easy task.

others have put repellents and traps out, but no good if you're parked outside

 

I'd suggest closing the windows.

 

+1

Mieces are pretty good at doing what mieces do....which is why even in 2019 ships commonly use "rat guards" on their mooring lines, and it is not at all uncommon for consumables and dry goods to be removed from cardboard containers before being stored on board.
It also gives the sailors an opportunity to be good stewards of the marine environment by minimizing trash output.

Notice to PITAs:
Rat guards are not armed individuals that intend in any way to harm mieces, but metallic devices to keep them from gaining access to my country's Naval wessels by cruising along up the mooring lines ("ropes")
Rats and mieces are, of course, very good swimmers, but slick metal hulls offer little opportunity to further one's stowaway career, AND there are organisms in the sea that have this weird idea that air-breathing mammals are a good source of protein.



Mieces are relatively intelligent creatures, which is why they're not usually found aboard US Submarines....but that's another story.


So....
MY advice in your case, in addition to keeping winders in the up position, would be to place glue traps under the car, and perhaps one inside as well.
They smell faintly vanilla-y (which mieces like) and if you have a pair of pliers, they're reusable.
Sometimes their little feet will stay attached to the glue trap after they're removed, but this does not deterr other mieces from being attracted to the trap.....so I guess they're not THAT intelligent.

Also you probably need to replace your cabin air filter.
If I'm right, you'll find out why.
If not.....it will not hurt anything.

Good Luck!

 

Thankfully there are cats wandering around my apartment complex that keep rats and squirrels in check. I just have to buy some cat food once in a while for them when I remember.

 

Probably need to take the wipers and cowl off, to put mesh over the cabin air intake, assuming it's similar to third gen.

There's likely additional egress points at the two rear corners of the car, below the hatch deck: it's exhaust for the hybrid battery cooling air. But those points are maybe not as trouble prone?

Also you might put mesh at the end of the engine air filter intake snorkel.

 

Gen 4 doesn't have a hybrid battery vent to outside the car:



(4)

 

MouseProofing the Prius | PriusChat That's the link to the multi-page discussion in the Knowledge Base sub-forum here on Priuschat. This topic is either waaaaaay more interesting than I'd have ever thought -- or mice and rats reeeeeeeeeally like getting into Priuses!

 

They'll get into any cars - or houses, sheds ... and pianos.


But keeping the windows closed on a car should be the first thing to do.

 

That is the first official mention I saw of the intake filer located behind the intake grille we are supposed to keep vacuumed. My manual has no mention of replacement or maintenance of it.

 

That certainly should be in the Owner's Manual. Not behind a paywall.

 

I am not even sure how it would be removed.

 

USA Owners Manual





There's a plastic clip from memory - I pulled it out a year or so ago and it was like new. But I have a non-shedding dog.

 

Thanks. I just found it Why wouldn't it be under "Maintenance and care" though???

 

So they'll do surface ships but not subs?!? Faint hint of radioactive glow on the mooring lines?

. . .

 

Yeah, I'm going to second that as well. Consider: Hot cabin vs Bubonic Plague??? I think I'm coming down in favor of the hot cabin. . .

 

Maybe the manual needs a "Pest Control" section too.

 

i've been carrying water bottles for 15 years, who knew?

 

My Dad had a bottle of water in his boot always. I think it came from the '49 Austin, then the '59 Holden always needing water. Still, the '92 Camry, which never needed water still had a box of goodies in the corner of the boot - including a plastic 4 litre bottle of water, a blanket, raincoat and a toolbox with a collection of tools which I suspect he wouldn't know much about how to use- on a '92 car.

When he stopped driving, I cleaned out the boot, picked up the water bottle by the handle - and the top lifted off, the water went everywhere. Seems heat affected.

 

Wait -- I know! This is another case for the Trunk Monkey! He knows how to deal with unwelcome automotive intruders!