Hey everyone,
I’m at my wit’s end here. Every time I leave my cabin car parked for more than a few days, mice somehow get inside and start chewing on everything — seat foam, wiring, even napkins I forgot in the glove box. I’ve cleaned it out multiple times, but they keep coming back.
Mice can squeeze through shockingly small gaps. I found chew marks near the firewall where cables go through. Sealing entry points made a bigger difference than anything else.
The biggest mistake I made was leaving food smells behind. Even empty wrappers were enough. Once I stopped storing anything in the car, activity dropped a lot.
I park my truck at a mountain cabin too. What helped was popping the hood when parked, gives mice fewer cozy, hidden spots near the engine.
@CabinTrailRob If they’re chewing wires, that usually means they’re nesting nearby. Check under seats and trunk panels. I missed a nest for weeks because it was tucked behind trim.
Prevention worked better for me than reacting. Blocking access points + removing nesting material stopped the cycle. Traps alone didn’t do much long-term.
I tried every scent-based deterrent people recommend, but honestly, most wore off fast. Physical barriers and cleanliness were the only consistent fixes.
One thing people forget is parking location. If the car is next to woodpiles or tall grass, you’re basically inviting them in. Moving my parking spot helped more than expected.
@RustyWrenchEva Totally agree. I thought “no food” meant no crumbs — turns out paper towels and seat stuffing count as snacks too.
It’s frustrating, but once you break the nesting habit, they usually move on. Mice are lazy — if your car stops being convenient, they’ll find another shelter.
@PineNeedleSam Same here. Once I sealed those cable entry gaps, the chewing stopped almost overnight. Wish I’d checked that first instead of after replacing wiring.