Possible entry points for rodents getting into 4th gen passenger compartment?

[Drcoffee]

I did something similar to this and used zip ties in existing holes to hold it in place. I cant believe toyota would leave this opening so unprotected to rodents. They do have rats in Japan, dont they?

 

[NCHornet]

I understand the main entry point in the 4th gen 4runners is the CAF. This is what I can't understand, my air filter was perfect, no evidence of anything chewing on it at all. I have also searched the car from top to bottom and can't find where all that material came from that filled my glove box? They chewed the napkins I had in there, but there was a lot of that vibration and sound deadening material they use all over the engine compartment and inside the vehicle. Only thing I can figure is maybe it came from up inside my seats but you would think there would be some evidence of this under the seat but there isn't. I have screened off the fresh air intake that leads to CAF and I always have the controls set to recirculate on the dash. I'm going to Wally World today to get some peppermint oil and lemon pledge. I just wish I could have found how they were getting in. Tonight will be the first night back to where I normally park. Traps will be baited and peppermint oil and lemon pledge sprayed, I will report back with the results. Hope y'all have a great day and thanks.
NCH

 

[4surfr]

I've been having rats getting into the passenger compartment for a long time...
First I put hardware cloth over the HVAC intake. That helped for a while, but then they came in again. WTF?
I finally figured out where the rear vents are and sure enough, it was the grand entrance!
Note: there's a vent on each side, you can access them by pulling back the fenders as shown, and there's only one non-obvious bolt shown in the photo with the wrench.
I'll let the photos speak for themselves...