Rat got in blower motor.

[greenmonkey]

So I got a rat or something in to my blower motor on top of my cabin air filter. It ate all the way through the filter crapped on everything. Now when my blower is on hi there is a low drone, almost like something is vibrating. Maybe it chewed on something further in that I can't see. I couldn't find any other damage and everything still works.

How did it get in there? Is there somewhere else I should look? I also found what looked to be a nest under the hood in the front right corner, opposite side of the batt. It had some weeds, some of that paper stuff from the firewall and cat crap in it.
Where's the best place to pick up a new cabin air filter at? Do I have to go to Toyota?
Anyway I'm just looking for some of your thoughts on this.
Thanks, Ty

 

[greenmonkey]

Also I did vacuum all the debris out of the blower so I know that's not out of balance.
Thanks

 

[aha2988]

you can find the filters at a local autoparts store. you dont have to go to toyota for them. not sure how it got in there but i've read some stories of some crazy stuff being found in the blower motor before so your not alone.

Clean everything out as best you can check for any holes where the rat may have gotten in an patch them up

 

[Five Star]

Was it a pack rat? I've heard of pack rats getting into cars and chewing wires and other things.

 

[greenmonkey]

Ya I cleaned everything really good. I think it could have been a pack rat or something, the weird thing was that there was large crap under the hood cat crap along with the big rat crap. I also found cat crap in the blower. I can't figure out how it got in, but I also don't know where it draws air from. We don't even have rats I thought. I must have gotten when I was camped somewhere or something.