Animal Nest Under Car Hood: Likely Woodrat, Not Squirrel

Q: Gardenia clippings used for nest under car hood. Culprit?

A: Original guess: squirrel. But Mary T. details Florida woodrat (Neotoma floridana) nesting in grill—neat, uses vegetation, twine, Q-tips, no droppings. Woodrats breed year-round, build large nests, forage in shrubs, nocturnal.

gardenia clipped by animal

woodrat nest in grill

Q: Gardenia clippings used for nest under car hood. Culprit?

A: Original guess: squirrel. But Mary T. details Florida woodrat (Neotoma floridana) nesting in grill—neat, uses vegetation, twine, Q-tips, no droppings. Woodrats breed year-round, build large nests, forage in shrubs, nocturnal.

gardenia clipped by animal

woodrat nest in grill