A Michigan man had quite a shocking surprise recently when he opened the hood of his car.
He was amazed to discover that local squirrels had stashed away about 50 pounds of pine cones in and around his engine and other car parts.
The car’s owner, Kellen Moore of Gaylor, was prompted to check things out under the hood after hearing his air conditioning unit begin making funny noises.
That’s when Moore popped the hood of his Dodge Journey and called co-worker Gabe Awrey to come take a look at his surprising discovery.
Awrey admits that it’s not that unusual for squirrels to store a few items under the hood of residents’ cars throughout Michigan.
More than one driver has discovered a few acorns blocking their air filter or stashed away elsewhere under the safety and comfort of the vehicle’s hood.
But what is most unusual about Moore’s find is the amount of pine cones, about 50 pounds worth, that squirrels were able to stash in Moore’s Dodge Journey.
Unfortunately, the space under a vehicle’s hood makes the perfect winter home for any squirrel because it’s protected from the elements and offers comfortable insulation.
Not to mention enough room for storing foods such as pine cones and acorns in addition to a hidden place to build a safe nest.
It took Moore and Awrey about 45 minutes to clear everything out, indicating that squirrels has been hiding their nest and food stash under Moore’s hood for more than a few weeks.