This may not be a nationwide phenomenon but every year or so I get a call for a pesky squirrel or rodent that is making his home under the hood of a car. Maybe because the engine provides warmth and protection or perhaps they are just curious but either way this can be a dangerous situation if let go. For some the call is too late because hundred of dollars worth of wire damage has already been done. It can be even worse if the unsuspecting car owner drives off to work and a short causes a fire or other malfunction.
Ways to deter squirrels
First understand that squirrels are not easily scared or deterred plus they seem to have an innate ability to figure out problems. These suggestions have worked for me but I’ve found nothing that works 100% of the time so be prepared to use more than one.
- Squirrel deterrent sprinkled on the ground under your car.
- Cayenne pepper sprinkled on tires and ground. (lots of it)
- Squirrels don’t like the color red. So a red towel over each tire or on ground under the car
- Rat snap traps in wheel well area or on top of tires if that’s where they enter.
- Rubber snakes placed under car
- Large homemade glue boards
- Live traps baited with corn.
Now I’m a nature lover like so many of you so I don’t really relish the idea of killing a squirrel but if 
it comes between my safety and that of my families the squirrel has got to go. Squirrels are rodents and as such their teeth are constantly growing so to keep them manageable they gnaw every day just like we file our nails. This is why they chew wires, pipes and anything else handy. Besides the expense this can become very hazardous in a short time. If worse comes to worse, find a pest control expert who can help you out.
