What the…..!!!

[terrifictimbersllc]

Decided to change my oil yesterday, just got home from a 40 mile away job, maybe a month since I'd opened the hood on my 2001 F350 7.3 psd.

No damage or sign of those responsible.  


 

   

[Resonator]

Check all the air vents and filters.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Decided to change my oil yesterday, just got home from a 40 mile away job, maybe a month since I'd opened the hood on my 2001 F350 7.3 psd.

No damage or sign of those responsible.  


 

  

The chewed out hole in the hood padding above the leaves was from about 10 years  ago when a red squirrel made an even bigger nest from cardboard boxes under the hood at a campground in Maine. We don't have red squirrels that I know of at home, just gray ones.
Now there's  a liberal dusting of cayenne pepper in place of that nest.

[SwampDonkey]

Found four mice nests in the wood pile, leaves and grass. They were in a hurry because that wood pile was put there in late October and early November followed by snow. I noticed one was encased in a tomb of solid ice. :D

[terrifictimbersllc]

Always feel bad dislodging the poor critters in the dead of winter as I take more wood. But too bad.

[Old Greenhorn]

I am just glad you found that this afternoon instead of tomorrow morning, halfway to Vernon.  :D

[SwampDonkey]

Always feel bad dislodging the poor critters in the dead of winter as I take more wood. But too bad.

They weren't disturbed in winter. I just stacked the wood this week and they was long gone. Neigbor's cat probably got some of them because he makes a trip around the yard at least once a day. Has all winter to. I saw mouse tunnels in the snow all winter around the wood.  :D

[terrifictimbersllc]

I am just glad you found that this afternoon instead of tomorrow morning, halfway to Vernon.  :D

Me too. Drive safe.

[Walnut Beast]

Always feel bad dislodging the poor critters in the dead of winter as I take more wood. But too bad.

My gosh they practically made the Ritz Carlton! 

[newoodguy78]

Glad you found it. That's a fire just waiting to happen. 

[GRANITEstateMP]

on the newer vehicles, with the Soy based coating on the wires, the mice can be tough! When I was at the dealer, we were constantly battling the little critters.  In my vehicles with cabin filters, I like to add a scented dryer sheet when checking them. just tuck the sheet between the filter and the case.  It isn't fool proof, but they mice don't love the scent, AND, it isn't an overwhelming smell when you turn the blower on.

Always better to find them before the journey vs during!

[Southside]

How often do you look under there?

[Ianab]

Glad you found it. That's a fire just waiting to happen.

From the our Rural Insurance Company...
Stop and Pop' to check for nests

Each spring, we see a spike in tractor fire claims from starling nests under the hood of the vehicle. Starlings can build a nest in the time it takes you to have a cup of tea, so it's important to make sure you're regularly popping the hood to check for any new nests.

A lot of farmers will open the tractor's hood when they park it up at the end of the day. Leaves the engine bay too open to interest birds and rats from setting up house. 

[Corley5]

  Red squirrels filled the area between the heads on my old 550's 7.3 over a ten-day period we were gone and the truck sat.  The material of choice was dry grass, chewed up blue paper towels, and black walnuts for snacks.  It caught on fire the first firewood delivery I attempted when we got home.  The material got back against the turbo and exhaust.  Real mess.  My insurance company stepped up.  I didn't check anything under the hood  because I had the truck ready to go work upon my return.

[terrifictimbersllc]

How often do you look under there?

Probably once a month unless something is going on I'm keeping an eye on. Only happened once before in 21 years, a campground neighbor told me about a red squirrel going up over my tire. We had been there 2 days and I wondered why a cardboard box in the truck bed was ripped to shreds and mostly gone. Thought my wife was using it to start the campfire. 

[Old Greenhorn]

We had been there 2 days and I wondered why a cardboard box in the truck bed was ripped to shreds and mostly gone. Thought my wife was using it to start the campfire.

So you'd rather suspect your lovely wife, rather than the scheming red squirrel? For shame! I HATE red squirrels! They are just destructive and vindictive little creatures.
 Funny little squirrel story: I was at a buddies house one quiet sleepy weekend morning a few days or weeks ago (I forget, I'm old and it don't matter) and we were drinking coffee in his kitchen and talking about an upcoming job. My view is into the kitchen and house, his view is over my shoulder and through the French doors behind me. As we are talking I notice he is answering me, but also staring over my shoulder and at the same time reaching for a rifle in the corner. He slowly slides a magazine in and chambers a round as he heads toward the door, which he opens carefully, takes aim, and pops a squirrel off a tree about 40' from his doorway. Then empties the gun, puts it away and resumes the conversation. Turns out, they have been tearing holes in his soffits and making nests in the attic. He says "I got 80 acres they are welcome to play on, breed, and nest in anywhere they like, I don't bother them. BUT these ones around the house gotta learn who built it and what I will do to protect it. I've had enough." :D

[thecfarm]

Kinda like, don't rattle my cage.  ;)

[Ed_K]

 We have problems with chipmunks  >:( . Three of them running back an forth under the car and my truck.

[aigheadish]

I don't like to think about such nests... ignorance is bliss, right? The silence of a non-working machine is a bit less bliss.

OGH- I have the same mentality for Canada Geese in my tiny little pond. My wife was in the front room when she said "uh oh, there's geese out there." It had just snowed so I didn't feel like putting shoes and a coat on to chase them away, so I tried a shotgun off the front porch. The wife didn't want me shooting them so I got 6 shots dang close. The geese? Didn't care a lick. Luckily they only hung around that day and were off. I don't like goose poop everywhere and I don't want the geese to keep the other birds that I like, like ducks and heron, scared away.