Although they might look cute, mice can cause havoc once they invade your classic car.  So, what makes your motor such a mouse magnet and how can you deter the rodent raiders?  Read on to find out more.

Why are classic cars so attractive to mice?

Mice are generally on the look-out for somewhere that offers shelter, warmth, and a convenient food supply. As many classic car owners take their cars out on the road very infrequently, the mice can live happily inside it undisturbed.  The inside of the car's engine bay is dark, warm, and dry with plenty of places to hide a tiny mouse nest, and your car's plush carpeting and leather-covered, foam cushioned seats provide a ready source of nesting material.

What are the signs of a mouse infestation?

The usual signs of mouse activity in a car include:

  • nibbled carpets, seats, and floor mats
  • tiny droppings sprinkled inside the car
  • electrical faults due to chewed wires
  • a stale, musty smell caused by mouse urine and droppings

In addition to the expense of repairs to the damage caused by mice, they also present a health hazard.  Mouse urine and droppings can carry diseases, such as leptospirosis and salmonella.  These harmful bacteria could be inhaled by anyone travelling in your car.

How do you keep mice away from your classic car?

  1. Keep your garage clean and tidy to discourage mice from exploring and store boxes and containers up on shelves.  
  2. Mice are repelled by the smell of peppermint.  Placing pieces of rag soaked in peppermint oil (available from health food shops) in your car's engine bay will deter mice from nesting there.  
  3. If you store bird seed or pet food in your garage, keep it in rodent-proof containers up on high shelves.
  4.  Mice like to stay well-hidden from predators and will not willingly cross stretches of open ground, so prune back any dense shrubbery and cut long grass outside your garage.  
  5. Consider storing your classic car up off the ground on steel wheel jacks during periods when it's not in use.  Mice can't get any purchase on steel.  
  6. During periods when your car is in storage, use copper wire screening to cover all openings to your car's engine bay; mice won't gnaw through copper as they don't like the taste.  Concentrate on areas such as, the air vent system, evaporation drainage tubes, and above the wheels.  Remember to remove the copper screening when your classic car is in use.  
  7. Make it a regular routine to remove your classic car's cover and pop the bonnet to check for signs of mouse activity.

In conclusion

You can protect your classic car from invasion and damage by mice by following the advice given above.  It's also a good idea to ask a local pest control company to carry out a pest inspection specifically for mice and other rodents in your garage or carport.  They will be able to take the necessary action to remove any infestation before any damage is done to your pride and joy.

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