Troubleshooter: Get the critters before they get your vehicle

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Critter infestations into our vehicles can happen almost any time of the year, but as autumn blows through, these unwelcome guests can start showing up in larger numbers and the damage they cause can be very expensive and messy.

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Animals like mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, and moles are the most common culprits, but larger denizens like raccoons and porcupines have been known to do create their fair share of havoc as well. There are plenty of remedies to help put out the non-welcome sign, but for the most part, drivers only turn to them after their vehicles and wallets have been bit hard. So here are a few early warning signs to watch for, and some easy preventative measures to help keep your vehicle varmint-free.

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Troubleshooter: Get the critters before they get your vehicle Back to video

Don’t assume you’re critter free. Unless you’ve been parking your ride in the same area for years and have never had any animal damage, don’t think you’re off easy. Remember our current pandemic has changed a lot for wildlife as well as us. Critters are moving into urban areas they never ventured near before. Take a quick peek at your parking area, especially if it’s an attached garage. Storing pet food or any other consumables next to your vehicle is like hoisting a neon-lit vacancy sign. Keep an eye out for telltale signs such as nut, seed, and plant waste, footprints on a frost-covered hood, or your dog’s sudden attraction to your parked car.

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You won’t see any evidence if your vehicle already looks trashed. If you want any hope of noticing small tuffs of foam, upholstery, or chewed bits of plastic in the cabin, you need to start with a relatively clean interior. Sometimes just the odour of cleaners, disinfectants, and stain removers is all it takes to keep our four-footed friends from moving in.

Pop the hood from time to time. Due to its very animal-accessible layout and residual warmth, engine bays are prime real estate for critters looking for a winter home. And there are plenty of spots to store winter food supplies like air filter boxes, under the wiper cowling at the base of the windshield, on top of suspension strut mounts, and many more. Look for twigs, leaves, and vegetation formed into nests. If you’re animal-free, at least take the time to remove any accumulated autumn leaves from the top of that wiper cowl as a solid mass of wet rotting vegetation can inhibit HVAC air flow as well as creating unpleasant odours.

I’ve always been a fan of using aromatic peppermint oil (mixed with warm water in a spray bottle) as a remedy for infestations. The odour it creates is pleasant enough for humans, but is absolutely abhorred by most animals. A once or twice a month spritz under the hood, seats, dash, and in the cargo area is usually all it takes. But if you’re looking for an immediate hack with something you might find around the home, disinfectant sprays such as Lysol can help as well.