Page 1 of 1
Strange Nest
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 3:47 pm
by 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 268 times
- IMG_2229.jpeg (1.15 MiB) Viewed 268 times
Re: Strange Nest
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 3:54 pm
by myoldjalopy
Nuts........hmmmm.............squirrel?
Re: Strange Nest
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:47 pm
by 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
Re: Strange Nest
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 6:25 pm
by Bill_qaz
Maybe rats, lucky they didn't chew wires
Re: Strange Nest
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 7:53 pm
by ndevans
Nah, that's not rats. That's sheep.
https://youtu.be/fILaLb6lsZ0?si=0xwgRSrLpTPHgFnJ
Watch out they might have a gun....
Re: Strange Nest
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 9:37 am
by geoberni
svenedin wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:47 pm
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?
Re: Strange Nest
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 10:03 am
by 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!
Re: Strange Nest
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2025 9:09 pm
by svenedin
geoberni wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 9:37 am
svenedin wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:47 pm
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