A raccoon in your engine bay is one of those problems that sounds made up until it happens to you. The engine stays warm after you park, and in cold weather that heat is exactly what a raccoon is looking for. The damage they do while they are in there, chewed wiring, torn insulation, is the expensive part. See my raccoon removal cost guide for what repairs run.
The most important thing is what you do before anything else: do not turn the key. Here is the whole process, step by step.
Signs you have a raccoon under the hood
- Nesting material, leaves, twigs, or insulation visible under the hood
- Chewed wires or hoses with fresh gnaw marks
- Droppings on the engine block or splash shield
- Scratching sounds when you get near the car
- Paw prints on the hood, fenders, or windshield
5 steps to get the raccoon out
- Do not start the engine. Turning the key can injure or kill the animal and wreck your belts and wiring. Pull the keys out of the ignition.
- Pop the hood and leave it open. This takes away the dark, enclosed space the raccoon is after. Leave it open for a few hours during the day.
- Add bright light and noise. Shine a work light into the engine bay and set a radio nearby. Raccoons are nocturnal and shy away from light and unfamiliar noise.
- Check for signs it left. After a few hours, look for fresh droppings or disturbed nesting material, and listen for scratching. Give it time to wander off on its own.
- Call a professional if it will not go. If the raccoon is still there after several hours, or you see chewed wiring, call a wildlife control operator. Do not reach in and try to grab it.
One warning: keep ammonia, mothballs, and bleach out of your engine bay. They are toxic in an enclosed space, can damage components, and do not reliably drive a raccoon out anyway.
Keep it from happening again
- Park in a sealed garage if you can.
- Drive the car regularly, a car that sits is a raccoon motel.
- Install a metal engine undershield to block access from below.
- A capsaicin spray on wires and hoses can help, reapplied every week or so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Chewed electrical wiring can expose copper, which shorts and arcs. If you suspect chewed wires, have a mechanic check the engine bay before you drive.
It can stay for days if it feels warm and safe. Lights, noise, and an open hood usually push it out within a few hours.
They can chew through rubber hoses and wiring harnesses. A metal engine undershield is the most reliable protection against that kind of damage.
Check for fresh droppings, disturbed nesting material, and paw prints, and listen for scratching. If you have not seen or heard signs for a day, it has probably moved on. Have a mechanic look the car over before you drive.
No. Starting or driving with an animal in the engine bay can kill it and damage your car. Get it out first, then drive.
