PS: 2001 WJ with a 4.7l
(I can't edit my post).

 

I don’t recall mine ever being covered. I can’t really make out much in that picture.

 

The ambient air duct likely is designed that way to keep the rain, snow, sand, dust, dirt, etc, from blowing directly into the air box.

It is kind of difficult to see where the openings are in your photo and below is a diagram of the duct from the parts list. Both the 4.7 and 4.0 use the same duct part.

https://www.bamwholesaleparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-ambient-air-duct-mopar-53013345aa-53013345aa?c=Zz1lbmdpbmUmcz1haXItaW5sZXQmbD0yNCZuPUFzc2VtYmxpZXMgUGFnZSZhPWplZXAmbz1ncmFuZC1jaGVyb2tlZSZ5PTIwMDEmdD1sYXJlZG8mZT00LTdsLXY4LWdhcw%3D%3D

 

Hey, you never know, Could've been a spy mouse sent by Putin. Beware. As long as you weren't storing any secure documents in there I'd say we're good. Maybe he had the wrong vehicle, spent the night, then split. Slippery little devils aren't they! haha

 

The air duct allows air to flow in from below. I just thought it seemed restrictive.