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

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[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

[svenedin]

I had to replace the exhaust straps yesterday. I hadn't noticed but these had been eaten as well!

Stephen

[Bill_qaz]

Rats time to check the wiring for signs of gnawing

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[svenedin]

Yes. The canvas/rubber of the exhaust straps seems to have been a tasty snack!

Stephen

[geoberni]

I spotted mention of this over on farcebook, in the group 'Dull Men's Club', it seems Martens are such a pest with car wiring in Germany etc, that there is a repellent spray for them...

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.
From the chat on the group, it seems it's in all 'Middle of Lidl', wherever you are, even places where there are no Martens, like Malta...

[moggiethouable]

Meeces, I hate them meeces to pieces.
Thank your lucky stars one didn't die in there, the smell is truly indescribable, I had it happen in an Accord I owned, it took weeks and weeks to clear that niff.

[svenedin]

I spotted mention of this over on farcebook, in the group 'Dull Men's Club', it seems Martens are such a pest with car wiring in Germany etc, that there is a repellent spray for them...
Marten.jpg
.
From the chat on the group, it seems it's in all 'Middle of Lidl', wherever you are, even places where there are no Martens, like Malta...

Wow! I used to hike a lot in the Alps and Martens were notorious for damaging cars in Austria and Southern Germany. They particularly liked eating the wiring in tourist hire cars leaving them stranded and bemused!

Stephen

[rocco]

I confirm that marder are a problem in rural areas. I've bought an ultrasonic device and some lemon smelly sticks for under the bonnet of my daily car. I also bought some plastic spikey mat for my parking space to try to keep them and cats off my car. One of the little büggers chewed up the under-bonnet soundproofing and made a nest in the sill last year.