Motorists in a market town are being plagued by car troubles – thanks to squirrels storing acorns in pipes.
A car garage in Petersfield, Hampshire, said it has seen an increase in customers with engine problems because of squirrels stashing acorns.
In one incident, mechanics at White Rose garage in the town found 200 acorns stuffed into an air intake pipe inside a Volkswagen Golf.
Squirrels are thought to have stashed the acorns there to keep them hidden. Typically, the rodents bury their nuts in the ground or tree hollows.
White Rose garage said it is the second time this week they’ve seen the issue, and they are having to warn people in Petersfield to be vigilant to squirrels looking to store acorns in their cars.
The garage said drivers who have been affected have been ‘very relieved’ not to have to shell out for any expensive repairs and found the incidents very funny.
Leigh Belton, from the garage, said it is ‘very abnormal’ to see an increase in it happening.
‘Two in the same week, I guess squirrels have been busy,’ he said. ‘Rodents can cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage. Mice and rats love the taste of wiring.
‘People do need to be aware, as rodents can cause damage to wiring and other components.’
Belton said the Volkswagen Golf, which came in for repairs, had been losing power and had an engine light on – all signs of a turbocharger issue.
He added: ‘But in our regular checks, we always have a look at the air intake pipe. We found the pipe was full of acorns. There must have been 100, 200 of them.’
Belton said that local squirrels were the ‘nutters’ responsible for the vehicular vandalism.
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Belton said: ‘This was the second time in a week this has happened. The last car had the same issue. It’s not an uncommon thing; we’ve seen it several times.
‘We have had fan motors pack up because rodents have filled the air box with acorns. We probably have three cases like it in a year, but two in a week was quite abnormal.’
Belton said if you find evidence of rodents in your car engine, you can purchase anti-rodent tape to protect vital wiring.
The chili extract in the tape makes it unappealing to rodents, who often like to nibble on the wires.
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