Thankfully I haven't had any further problems, but I live in fear of it happening again. In a garage I'd suggest leaving some traps set permanently as suggested by others.

 

My car is outside, so traps aren't really an option. I've fitted an outdoor mouse/rat/marten ultrasonic repeller in the gravel driveway at ground level. I park with it just under the front bumper each night and switch it on. For all I know it's an empty plastic box with a wire attached, but I haven't had any problems since, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

I use this one if anyone finds themselves in the same situation:

 

http://amzn.eu/fTtRvIq 

 

FYI, it's got a euro plug attached, and I checked that the frequency range is appropriate for mice and rats, not just martens., which are fairly rare in Cheshire....

Edited 12 March, 20188 yr by CheshireBumpkin

Hope it's all sorted with no returns to finish the left overs.

Never appreciated our two cats so much.  

 

I've just come across this thread, and was interested in that a couple of my neighbours have recently been having vehicle wiring and hose problems caused by pine martens.

 

It seems it's a fairly common problem in some parts of Europe and Skoda Germany have a specific accessory available capable of fitment to all Skoda models which may be of interest (albeit not the best Google translation):

 

 

 

Edited 8 January, 20197 yr by Arkaig

Not just cables they chew.

 

We had a similar problem a couple of years ago with an Octavia in France, same engine as my current Superb.  Started engine and within seconds all sorts of warning lights came on.  

 

Limped into the VW/Skoda dealer in Cluses and they spotted the cause in minutes - small furry animals had been chewing the air pipes at the back of the engine, 3 x 6 inch pieces of 5mm bore hose later all was well.  Between the tech's his halting English and my poor French he explained that it wasn't warranty but that there would be no charge.