Help: squirrels under hood of car

[antsss]

For the second time the crazy squirrels living around our yard have built a nest under the hood of the car and have chewed away some of the wiring!!! The last time this happened the mechanic suggested moth balls in a cloth sack (like a sachet) tied under the hood. Apparently this does not work for our squirrels. Does anyone have any other suggestions??? TIA...

 

[N.Bailey]

I almost want to tell you to pick the phone up and call Casey Anthony. She has lots of experience on this subject.

Sorry though, I have no real advice to give.

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

Catch and release traps? This is one that I would call an exterminator for. It is really dangerous for them to be gnawing on the wiring in your car.

 

[JoiseyMom]

BBgun??

 

[LindaR]

This is VERY dangerous. They will chew ANYthing. We have this issue where I work. When my boss is gone, he takes mouse poison and places the little trays under the hood. Care is taken to remove them before driving so that their many dogs don't get into the poison.

They have had problems for years and spent several thousand dollars in repairs for a couple of vehicles. The bad thing is that something can malfunction WHILE driving.

 

[Feralpeg]

It could be worse. You could have squirrels in your pants!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OID7gA8fcaw

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest putting a cat under there to chase the squirrels away.

 

[C.Ann]

I've never heard of this before - so I don't have any suggestions - but I would be terrified to drive a car that I knew had wires (not necessarily easily visible just by looking under the hood) that were consistently being chewed on by any type of animal..

 

[Geoff_M]

On the NPR show "Car Talk" this week they had a woman with cats sleeping under her hood. They deduced that the cats were looking for a warm place to sleep when she'd park the car. They recommended she go out and buy fox urine and put it on the ground near the car. Apparently it's commercially available.

 

[golfgal]

I would suggest putting a cat under there to chase the squirrels away.

I KNOW better to read the DIS while drinking a beverage that is now all over my computer, thanks

This must not be a car you drive much. Maybe leave the hood of the car open, at least part way??? Do you have a garage you can park the car in?

 

[Mickey527]

Cayanne Pepper.
I had squirrels make a nest in my garage over the summer I bought this stuff at Walmart during the summer called Squirrel Away. It had some fillers like cornstarch but was made of 90% cayanne pepper. It got rid of the squirrels.
I didn't know at the time buy they chewed the wires from the overhead light. I changed the bulbs etc not knowing why the light didn't work. the electrician came yesterday to replace the fixture and said the wires had been chewed.

 

[antsss]

Well we brought the car to the mechanic and he fixed the wiring harness. We were ok for 1 night. This morning I checked under the hood and there was a new nest of branches and the wiring harness was completely chewed through AGAIN!!! I went out and bought a have-a-heart trap and placed it under the car. I also have some snap traps that I would rather not use, but at this point we're desperate. I also bought some rat poison for under the hood.

This is a car we drive every day. The mechanic said the squirrels actually prefer a warm engine now that the weather is getting cold.

 

[clovergirl5]

I almost want to tell you to pick the phone up and call Casey Anthony. She has lots of experience on this subject.

Sorry though, I have no real advice to give.