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How do you keep red squirrels out of your car engine?
Is there any good way for me to keep red squirrels out of my car engine? I found squirrels living in my engine on three different occasions so far. I feel like it’s time for me to start taking preventative measures.
Joshua Levy · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Maybe it’s the shelter or maybe it’s the warmth, but for some reason, little critters love hanging out in car engines. Luckily, there are three easy techniques you can use to keep squirrels out of your car engine:
- Spray animal repellent on strategic areas of your car. The spray won’t make any difference to you, but putting some on your tires, undercarriage, and bumper can go a long way in keeping the squirrels away. Avoid spraying it on areas that get hot, since repellants can sometimes be flammable.
- Sprinkle ground peppers around your car to keep the squirrels away. Ground cayenne pepper and habaneros have a strong smell that is much more unpleasant for little mammals than it is for grown adults. Unless you accidentally heat the peppers up, you probably won’t even notice they’re there!
- Place mothballs under your hood. It turns out that squirrels don’t like the smell of mothballs. Unfortunately, this technique isn’t always effective—but it’s a good preventative measure that doesn’t take much effort.
As a last resort, you can always use poisons or traps. But then you’ll be stuck dealing with carcasses in your engine. If none of these methods work, consider
calling an exterminator
.If you’d like to seek professional help to keep squirrels out of your car, offset the price by saving on car insurance with
Jerry
. A licensed broker, the Jerry app can help you find and compare quotes from over 50 top providers for free. If you find a better rate, Jerry can help you buy your new coverage and even help cancel your old policy!View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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