This is a real head scratcher.
A couple days ago, I saw the flash of a little field mouse run for cover when I went into the garage,
and my bag of wild bird seed had a hole in it and seeds scattered around it.
So, I set out a trap and caught the little demon.
We have a 2002 Ford Explorer that is kept inside the garage. Windows up, doors closed, as is the garage door.
Usually, it doesn't get driven more than once every week or so.
Today, I vacuumed out the inside and changed the oil.
Little specks of paper towel were all over the floor in the back seat scattered around my roll of paper towels.
The car is in almost the same condition as when we bought it almost new.
There's no way a mouse could get inside the passenger compartment......
but that has to be what chewed up the paper towels.
After I changed the oil, I checked the other stuff under the hood, including the air filter in its box.
A bunch of the exact same kind and size of paper towel shreds were inside the box/chamber for the air filter.
Over the years, I've seen rats & squirrels nest up in engine compartments-- but not get inside or in a air filter.
I don't see how the little critter could have made several trips back & forth inside the car, and inside the air filter.
Can field mice beam themselves around like the transporter on Star Trek?