Strange Nest

[svenedin]

I checked the oil today and I noticed a lot of debris in the area underneath the battery box. Leaves and eaten nut shells. Hazelnut shells are evident and possibly sweet chestnut shells. I wonder what animal did this? I presume it happened in France during Minors on Tour.

Stephen

IMG_2230.jpeg (1.23 MiB) Viewed 270 times

IMG_2229.jpeg (1.15 MiB) Viewed 270 times

[myoldjalopy]

Nuts........hmmmm.............squirrel?

[svenedin]

My first thought was Squirrel especially as it is too early in the year for this year's nuts and those must have been buried......

On the other hand, the "tunnel" under the battery box seems too small for a squirrel. They can easily get in underneath the car though.

A friend of mine suggested a Marten which are notorious in parts of Austria and Southern Germany for nesting in car's engine bays and usually having a go at "rearranging" the wiring loom.....

Stephen

[Bill_qaz]

Maybe rats, lucky they didn't chew wires

[ndevans]

Nah, that's not rats. That's sheep.

https://youtu.be/fILaLb6lsZ0?si=0xwgRSrLpTPHgFnJ

Watch out they might have a gun....

[geoberni]

My first thought was Squirrel especially as it is too early in the year for this year's nuts and those must have been buried......

On the other hand, the "tunnel" under the battery box seems too small for a squirrel. They can easily get in underneath the car though.

A friend of mine suggested a Marten which are notorious in parts of Austria and Southern Germany for nesting in car's engine bays and usually having a go at "rearranging" the wiring loom.....

Stephen

Martens are larger than Squirrels and actually predate on the smaller creature.
Europe has 2 Martens,the Pine Marten as is common in Scotland, and also the Stone Marten, which is much more comfortable around humans and the one that has a reputation for liking cars.
Squirrels in France are the Red, so they're fairly small compared to the invasive Grey which many of us in the UK are familiar with.
I would have thought the Squirrel would be the more obvious suspect to sneak in under the battery box.
Or perhaps just a Rat?
Any droppings?

[myoldjalopy]

Squirrels or Martens, whatever it was they were obviously after nuts - and which might explain why Stephen found a few loose nuts on his car over in France......good thing they didn't manage to remove them altogether!

[svenedin]

My first thought was Squirrel especially as it is too early in the year for this year's nuts and those must have been buried......

On the other hand, the "tunnel" under the battery box seems too small for a squirrel. They can easily get in underneath the car though.

A friend of mine suggested a Marten which are notorious in parts of Austria and Southern Germany for nesting in car's engine bays and usually having a go at "rearranging" the wiring loom.....

Stephen

Martens are larger than Squirrels and actually predate on the smaller creature.
Europe has 2 Martens,the Pine Marten as is common in Scotland, and also the Stone Marten, which is much more comfortable around humans and the one that has a reputation for liking cars.
Squirrels in France are the Red, so they're fairly small compared to the invasive Grey which many of us in the UK are familiar with.
I would have thought the Squirrel would be the more obvious suspect to sneak in under the battery box.
Or perhaps just a Rat?
Any droppings?

Our chalet was in a a heavily wooded area with a lake nearby. Red Squirrels, yes quite possible. We had the privilege of watching otters in the lake whilst eating our breakfast. Rats I hope not but I was just going to vacuum all of the mess out. I used to keep rats as pets actually and if you look at the photo closely there are some things that might be a rat dropping..........

Stephen