Another rat problem

Hi Folks- Does anyone know what this port in the back of the cabin filter holder is supposed to be? It got all chewed up. Do I need to worry about replacing it?

I discovered a rat was in my truck yesterday when I flipped up the back seat and found a nest made with a roll of paper towels I had in there. I vacuumed everything up but found more evidence this morning on the front passenger floor; this looked like sound proofing insulation.

After searching here I was disappointed to see how common rat problems are. Thanks to the great posts I got mesh installed over the air intake and other holes in the firewall this afternoon. I also think I managed to scare the rat out of the truck. I saw something shoot out and jump into the undercarriage. I have a couple traps set inside just incase.

When I took out the cabin filter it was very dirty (never changed) and full of debris. I didn't see too much rat evidence there but I think there are some piece of plastic that used to covering that port.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/my-tundra-and-the-rats-that-almost-killed-me.102095/#post-2618263

 

I did see that post. Yikes. Thankfully I think mine resident was only inside the cab for two days. I found very few droppings in only one spot on the floor. I'm planing to get a interior shampoo and detail.

Trying to determine if I need to do anything about that chewed up, now missing, piece at the back of the cabin filter holder.

 

First off. Close your AC to recirc every time you park. He is probably coming in thru the hole where fresh air enters. lift your hood, remove the plastic crap on the right side and when you get to the air inlet hole which is about 4”x9” cut a piece of 1/4” galvanized metal screen and use yellow painters tape to hold it flat over the opening. Nothing larger than 1/4” or they will squeeze thru. They won’t ever chew galvanized metal.
they will leave if they have no food. But if you trap them they will chew thru 3” of solid wood to get out.
I’m an expert at rat removal. Having actually shot over 300 and killed many more by other means on our rural property.

 

That is without queestion the stupidest thread I hae ever read on this site.

 

Welcome.

Looks like you've done just about all you reasonably can. Except for checking/changing the filter much more often.

 

He says he has already done the screening.

And it would depend on how you trap them if they can chew through anything.

 

After reading this thread and vaguely remembering seeing headlines about Toyota using soy-based wire insulation (can someone confirm this?), I purchased a bottle of the peppermint oil concentrate and, after mixing it with water, sprayed the entire engine bay with a generous amount. I do park outside and have plenty of squirrels running around. DO not want to wake up to some wires being chewed and/or a big nest built in the engine bay. Anyone else using peppermint oil in the engine bay area?

 

I keep pine sol soaked rags and bars of pink dove soap in the engine bay 24/7

 

I tried peppermint spray. Only seems to work a day or so for keeping squirrel out of engine bay. Tried vinegar on rocks around truck, didn't work either. Neither did other pungent sprays that did work for deer repellent.
So far I haven't found anything to work well for squirrels on engine. Maybe need a general reduction in squirrel population in yard. They haven't chewed anything yet that I can find but I see footprints all over.

 

Smack.. well, I do not mind squirting the engine bay every other day or so. For the record, I am NOT seeing any activity in the engine bay for now; I just do not want them to ever venture I there.