mice are getting into my rav by chewing through the plastic

Mice are entering my 2015 RAV. They got in by chewing through the plastic screen that covers the fresh air intake. The mice left feces and urine all through the vehicle, even in the closed compartment which houses the spare tire. They got into the glove box and shredded everything in there and made a nest in the cabin air filter-ruining it. Research online shows that this seems to be a fairly common problem. According to online reports, some Toyota dealers will screen the fresh air intake with hardware cloth or some other type of screen that cannot be chewed through. My dealer will not screen, per "Toyota Guidelines". I am totally disgusted as this was a brand new purchase and I am still paying monthly for this vehicle. One of the service techs suggested I put peppermint in my vehicle to deter the rodents. This is ridiculous!! I have four other vehicles and NONE of them have any sign of rodent entry or damage. I have written a letter to Toyota and I hope they address this horrible issue.