Mice in Cabin Filter: Remedies?

I have mice crawling around my engine bay, into the intake and into the cabin filter.

Exterminators and mice bate stations have been to the property several times, but I live out in a more rural part of SoCal so there is plenty of food and homes for the mice.

I've cleaned and washed my engine bay, putting peppermint oil and an Irish Spring soap bar anchored against the firewall.

The mice have taken pieces out of my intake filter. I've had to replace it weekly at this point.

There is evidence of mice droppings, urine, and open cell foam bits on the cabin filter. Also replacing weekly. I've ordered fine-metal stainless steel mesh to rivet over the HVAC cowel.

My question is what else can I do to stop mice from eating my truck? What is the open cell foam (dark grey) bits they're eating in the HVAC system?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cabin-air-intake-screen-mod.566441/

 

I had them get into my Tundra and tear shit up. I put stainless mesh over the opening for the cabin intake and the opening into the engine intake to keep them out. And its parked in the garage only now (it was outside sitting while I drove my work truck when they got in), so far so good.

 

You could try cayenne pepper.

 

Get a cat. Seriously though even if you keep them out of the filter they eventually will chew up your wiring and give you a hefty repair Bill.

 

Put steel wool in those air ducts & intakes. Mice & rats hate steel wool.

 

Make a few of these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SIlYiiCGLI

 

Yikes!

 

Electronic rodent repeller......This and DeCon and my daughters rodent problem went away. (Be careful with the DeCon if you have pets)

 

Start feeding a male stray cat just enough to keep him coming around. I have one that sleeps on a front tire.

 

"The best defense is a good offense," or some shit.