WASHINGTON, D. C. (Tuesday, November 13, 2018) ––Animals, including stray and house cats, and rodents, such as mice, rats, raccoons, chipmunks and squirrels, are normally attracted to the dry, warm areas of a car, including the interior and the engine. Once they get inside a vehicle, they can wreak all kinds of havoc. Telltale signs of rodent infestation include nesting material, droppings and the smell of urine, and paw prints on the hood or on top of the engine. Simply touching the feces, urine and saliva of rodents can expose drivers and passengers to diseases, including Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which can prove fatal.

Car not starting? Rats! Literally, rats or mice could be the problem, especially mice inside your motor. As cold weather approaches, rodents like mice, rats, chipmunks and squirrels take shelter wherever they can, maybe even in your car. AAA automotive technicians say rodents will take up residence under the hood of a vehicle to get out of the cold, snow and wind. The next thing you know these stowaways and strays under your hood will be feasting on the electrical insulation in your vehicle.

“Cats, especially outdoor cats, aren’t the only creatures prone to crawl under the hoods or into the engine bays or the undercarriage of a parked car to keep warm on cold days and cold nights,” said John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs. “As winter approaches, other rodents are drawn to the warmth of the engine compartment. While advances in car construction can be beneficial to the environment, there may also be unforeseen consequences such as making your car more appetizing to rodents.”

Washington, D.C. is giving a whole new definition to the phrase “the rat race.” Blame it on Rattus norvegicus, those big brown rats scurrying about. In fact, all that rattiness can also take a toll on your vehicle. With more than “700 rat complaints to 311 for every 100,000 residents,” Washington, D.C. is one of the rattiest cities in the nation. It is even rattier than New York City. “Complaints to 311 about rodents in the nation’s capital reached an all-time high in 2017 — totaling 5,310, a 50 percent increase from 2016 — and are on track to increase in 2018,” according to analysis published by The Washington Post on August 23, 2018. 

“Mice can enter your vehicle through openings smaller than a dime, including through vents, steering columns, pedal shafts, and holes around cables. Rats find the wiring in newer cars simply irresistible,” explains James Moore, Manager, AAA Mid-Atlantic Car Care Center. “Mice, rats, squirrels and raccoons can do thousands of dollars worth of damage to cars by eating wiring or destroying a car’s interior. Nothing smells worse in a car’s interior than the odoriferous smell of a rodent that crawls into your car and dies.”

“You dirty, double-crossing rat!” Rodents can spread disease to humans breathing in dust that is contaminated by rodent urine and droppings. “Rats, and possibly mice, store food into the vehicle, often near their nests,” explains Utah State University. “The food is a health risk to humans during cleanup, when humans are at risk for coming into contact with rodent saliva. Additionally, uneaten food can spoil and grow mold. When nests are located in ventilation systems, they can cause health issues if not cleaned up properly.”

“The front teeth in rats “grow 4½ to 5½ inches each year,” according to Discover Magazine. “Rats wear them down by continuously gnawing on everything around them, including cement, brick, wood, lead pipes, and other small animals.” With those big front teeth rats can also gnaw through the wires, which can lead to electrical shorts in your vehicles and they can shred the upholstery inside your vehicle. Because some car parts are made from renewable resources, such as soy-based wire coverings or body insulation made of natural products, the car could become a smorgasbord of treats for rodents, whose snacking can result in costly damage for car owners. In fact, AAA technicians say they typically see this type of destruction more frequently as the weather gets cooler, especially if a car is not regularly driven.

“Gnawed wires cause all sorts of electrical problems, including engine no-starts. Unfortunately, the cost to make repairs can run into hundreds of dollars and is not always covered under the owner’s new car warranty or car insurance,” says Todd Davis, Car Care, Insurance and Travel District Director at AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Rodent damage is not something a car owner would think of needing protection from, however, we’ve seen enough cases to say it’s a problem,” Davis adds.

“A pair of brown rats can produce as many as 2,000 descendants in a year if left to breed unchecked,” according to Discover Magazine. If you have to park a seldom-used car in a driveway or on the street, be sure to start and drive it from time to time. This can chase away mice that might be hibernating under your hood, and 30 minutes or so of operation will circulate the vehicle lubricants and help keep the battery charged.

“Rodent-inflicted damage is an age-old problem that some observers say is increasing as automakers use more plant-based biodegradable material to reduce waste. It turns out that rodents sharpening their teeth and feasting on cars is more prevalent than you might think,” warns Consumer Reports. Since the early 2000s, requirements have been put upon automakers to manufacture cars that are more fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly. To meet those requirements, certain car parts are being engineered with biodegradable elements. Soy-based wire coating is one example, along with insulation made from natural products like sisal and flax, and seat cushions made from coconut fiber. Do not park a seldom-used car on the street or in a driveway, AAA technicians advise, but if you must, there are ways to limit rodent infestations.

• While some people advocate using moth balls or pepper spray under the hood, fumes from these products are unhealthy for humans as well.

• Alternatives include cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil, or more conventional measures such as mouse traps, poisons and ultrasonic repellant devices.

• A number of non-toxic, plant-based rodent repellants are also available, and copper screening (not plastic or other metals) can be used to seal off air intake openings because rats don’t like its taste.

All that damage caused by gnawing rodents residing in your engine, glove compartment, and vehicle interior, can put a serious dent in your wallet or pocketbook. Fortunately, it might be covered by your auto insurer, AAA Insurance. “That is especially true if you have comprehensive auto insurance coverage,” advised Kendall Bramble, Insurance Counselor, AAA Insurance. “Such policies cover damage to your vehicle resulting from incidents other than collision, such as theft or damage from flood, fire or animals.”

Here is one more tips for coping with big stowaways in vehicles. “If you have opened the hood of the vehicle and found a wild animal, DO NOT prod the animal or attempt to remove it,” warns the Utah State University Extension Program. “Instead, leave the hood open and walk away from the vehicle for a few minutes. You may also try to honk the horn, if it appears that the animal is eager to get out of the vehicle.”

Follow us on Twitter: @AAADCNews

Like us on Facebook: AAA Mid-Atlantic News

Washington, D.C. Mailing Address:
1405 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20005

AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 59 million members nationwide and nearly 79,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com