Try a humane rat trap; however, most rats are usually too smart for them.  Try sitting in your car and sit quietly for about half an hour, you might be able to hear her.  This is just to make sure she's still there, but if you're good, you can pinpoint the sound.

That happened with my dear Charcoal once, on the way home . . . but now he's safe and sound in my arms.

I would suggest getting some kind of food that smells really good and strong and sitting in the car eating for a while. Be very quiet, have the lights down low, and watch and listen for her. Hopefully she will come out if she is still there. Most ratties can't resist melted cheese or the smell of feshly cooked chicken.

Well, so that the same thing that happened to Mishymoo doesn't happen to you.  Put out food and water in your car until you are able to find the wee one or until you figure the poor thing is really gone.  Or you could put water out and no food and bait the live trap with something irresistable like peanut butter.  Good luck!!!

Oh, goodness.  That is a dire situation.  I hope you find her.   Sounds like good advice.  Keep us posted....

Suzy

Besides leaving water and food don't forget to park in the SHADE!! and crack the windows. Cars get offly hot even in spring.

Any luck?

Actually, I do have an update as of this morning.  Sorry to keep you all in suspense; I haven't really been around my computer too much the last couple of days.  But anyway, my little lost rattie has been sighted!

This morning I opened the passenger door of my car to check the trap, and she was hanging out on the floor in the back seat, happily shredding my floor mat. Before I could react, she scurried back under the dash. So she is still alive, and she is indeed hanging out in my dashboard.

The bait in the trap (some lettuce and a piece of apple) remained untouched. I decided to try something yummier, so I put a piece of carrot cake with cream cheese icing and nuts in there, and an hour later went out to check the trap. She'd gotten in there and gotten the cake, but because the angle of the cage prevented one of the trap doors from closing all the way, she managed to escape. 

Then later today, I came out of the store, and when I went to get in my car, she was in the back seat again, drinking the water I'd set out for her.  Again, she was too quick for me.  So now I've put the water inside the trap, and have positioned the trap so that it closes all the way, and hopefully that will work.  I really want to get her safe in the house!  NOW!

I would try something like chicken or wet cat food. Something really smelly! I'm glad she is still alive!

The rat is safe and sound in her cage. Finally trapped her last night. So the drama is over. Now I'm having fun watching the two rats get acquainted. The new one is still very young and is really shy and unsocialized (even before the 3-day wild adventure under the airbag) so my older one, Nancy, is totally dominating. They're squeaking at each other, but Nancy seems to be doing all the "talking" and keeps climbing all over the new one. It's very cute.

I think I'm gonna name the new one "Dash."

I now, of course, have lots of questions regarding socialization of the new one.  I'll be posting in a separate thread soon!

Thanks everyone for your kind and encouraging words during the dilemma!

So glad to hear that the little one is safe! I think that "Dash" is quite befitting for her.

Umm....Where are the pictures??   Glad to hear Dash is safe and sound   love2teach

Hooray!! She's home!  I'm sure you spoiled her rotten with lots of treats, making her think she was in no trouble, eh? hehehehe  Btw, Dash IS a great name! 

I love stories with happy endings. Dash is such a cute name.

yes, Pictures.