Squirrels.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

This is not a warm and fuzzy love all animals thread.   


I go to take my old Challenger out this morning for the first time in 3 weeks. I open the hood to connect the battery, and I find crap everywhere. I don't mean crap as in junk, I mean crap as in sh!t...the stinky stuff.     It is in every crevace of my intake manifold, on top of the battery, and the inner fenders.    I was also left with quite a sizeable collection of acorns up on the cowl panel. Some eaten, most not. I guess there is no need to tell you what fun I had cleaning it all up.   

Short of chaining a dog to my car, what can be done to keep these critters away? I keep a cover on the car, but that probably makes it even more cozy.   


  Mike   

[422STROKER]

Man that stinks!

Tom

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Man that stinks!

Tom

Good one!!   

[422STROKER]

On a more serious note it seems Cayenne pepper sprinkled will work an possibly mothballs in one of your running socks(dirty) will work too.

Tom

Get a hold of the problem before they chew the wiring.

[Grancoupe]

I would speak to an exterminator about preventative techniques. But getting that stuff off you car is another story. don't just clean it off without a respirator. i had the same discovery in the attic of my last house. I found out before i went in there to clean it out how dangerous it can be dealing with squirrel cr@p. Soak it down in bleach first before trying to clean it in any way. If you use a hose make sure you have a respirator and eye goggles. I am lazy about personal protection but when i heard about the spores and other infections these thing carry around i wasn't taking any chances.

[sleepychallenger]

in colorado we used the fake rubber snakes and moth balls. they keep rodents away. that really sucks man.

[LAA66]

 If possible, leaving the hood open detours them from nesting in there. As a last resort, D-con or another specifically targeted poison will work. Set it up under the hood but remember to remove it before driving your car. Be careful if you have dogs that might be interested in the corpse(s).

[MEK-Dangerfield]

If possible, leaving the hood open detours them from nesting in there. As a last resort, D-con or another specifically targeted poison will work. Set it up under the hood but remember to remove it before driving your car. Be careful if you have dogs that might be interested in the corpse(s).

I was thinking about some type of poison, but hoping for something safer like mothballs could work. 


Thanks for all the suggestions so far everyone.   

[71chally416]

If you wanna be humane about it get a live trap and when you snare them take them for a ride into the woods and let them go. I have the same problem here. They've even tore up my house.    They definately avoid my Manchester terrier. She will kill them if she catches them. 

[DoNotChallengeHer]

Mike, I had a mouse in the trunk of the Chally a couple years ago. I put moth balls in plastic containers and bars of Irish Spring soap. We also put mouse poison thru the garage 1st.I got the mouse poison at Tractor Supply. I haven't had a problem since.

[dutch]

If you use poison they die....they like to die in their own cozy beds....that`s probably under your hood.  You don`t want rotting corpses in your car ....kinda hard to get rid of the smell 

[Street_Challenged73]

I'd suggest putting several dryer sheets (like Gain or Bounce) and place them throughout the engine compartment/interior.  I had an issue with mice in my Stealth when I had it sitting all last winter, but the dryer sheet solution has kept them away ever since then.   Plus, you don't have to smell moth balls and your car will smell like it was just taken out of the dryer.

[plumcrazy704406]

driving you nuts I guess. We had a racoon and squirell problem and gross as it sounds, we sprayed urine around the nest and problem areas and poof they disappeared in a couple of applications. Something like remarking the territory and suggesting they move on to the neighbor!\\

 

 

[71chally416]

we sprayed urine around the nest and problem areas and poof they disappeared in a couple of applications.

What kind? 

[MEK-Dangerfield]

What kind? 

I don't think I want to know!!