so I basically live in a neighborhood thats surrounded by a swamp, and there's lots of various creatures that like to roam around at night. I don't know why it is, but they seem to love hanging out on my hood and roof as I've got muddy footprints all over my car. anyone here have any experience keeping animals off of your car? I'd like to keep it humane (no poison or traps). any advice would be great

 

I can't tell you what to do to keep them off your MINI, but I can acknowledge feeling your pain. We have a family of racoons that live near us. Every now and then, I'll find paw prints on my bonnet. Fortunately, they tread lightly, so no scratches (yet).

The Mother racoon is becoming de-sensitized to humans. She will boldly sit near the front driver's side wheel/tire (I swear she's looking at herself in the chrome), and preen herself while watching me approach...when I'm within about 20 feet, she scampers away.

 

A re-incarnated former MINI owner, I'll betcha!

 

haha, thats funny. i had a raccoon that used to hang out near my garbage can in Baton Rouge. You could walk right by him (which i did on accident several times) and it wouldn't even bother him.

I think the culprit of the footprints on my car might be possums. I've been seeing them scampering around lately. I guess a car cover would solve a lot of my problems, but I'm kind of worried that the Louisiana heat coupled with a cover would turn my car into an oven. Can excessive heats damage the interior?

 

I get birds that are trying to steal my radio!!!

 

I left my garage open one night and a cat sprayed my Mini .I think in his world it belongs to him now .

 

I don't know if this really works, but I saw people doing this in rural NJ and was told it keeps wildlife away: Hanging strategically placed locks or (breatheable) bags of human hair around the desired off-limits area. If the animals are already human desensitized, I doubt it will work, though.

Several mornings ago, as I looked out our plate glass litchen window, I saw a small deer standing next to the MINI. It looked at me with a look that said, "Hey, I'm only looking at it".

 

 

Cayenne pepper will keep bugs off of plants. You could try sprinkling it on the ground around your car. We used to spray plants with something to keep the dog from laying on them - check around a large pet store. You could spray the ground, but I don't think I'd spray the car.

 

I have kind of the same problem. There is some bastard, fat cardinal that likes to sit my window or mirror and crap all over the side of my car. I put plastic bags over the mirrors. Helped a little. Lately, there's been construction on my road so I haven't seen him in a while. I almost got him 1 day. I have a .177 cal. pellet with his name on it but a jogger caused me to wait. As he ran past, I looked up just in time to see the bird take off. What the F$*&! One day, I have a friend he dosen't want to meet. His name is Ruger. Chambered in .22.
http://www.terroryzm.com/pistolety/image017.jpg

 

My Siberian Husky loves birds. Some days she kills and munches on 2 or 3. Bluejays, blackbirds and crows that try to attack her are especially vulnerable. Unwary robins, wrens and sparrows get picked off a lot too. She cans jump over six feet straight up from a sitting position so unless they avoid her vicinity altogether she's likely to get them. Much easier than shooting them and she enjoys the heck out of it.

 

Use "Have-A-Heart" traps on the 4 legged fellons. Doesn't hurt them. Take them to the pound. Works for me.

 

Car cover.

 

Be glad you don't live near a bigfoot, like I do.

 

Google "scat mat". It's a pad you place on the car that gives a "harmless jolt" of electricity to persuade animals to leave the car alone. I like the "harmless jolt" part since it delivers the pain you want to deliver, but without undue cruelty...

http://www.safepetproducts.com/pilot...FVB1OAod0lOzaA

Maybe there's a higher-powered one for when we have to park at the airport...

 

I had raccoon problems & called the wildlife people looking for a humane solution. They told me to saturate some rags with ammonia & lay them around where the raccoons are congregating & it would make them go away. It worked but I have no idea if it will work with any other animal

 

Don't put those ammonia-soaked rags on your Mini!

 

Well DUH you put the rags on the ground around your MINI

 

Reminds me of a story about pepper spray and grizzly bears. Turns out that, when shot at a live Grizzly, the spray is effective in deterring grizzly bear attacks - which is great - so ONE camper decided to spray it AROUND his campsite. The Grizzlies thought it was hot sauce. Or Doritos. Net result wasn't good.

It's, of course, possible that's an urban legend, but it's kinda funny (unless you're the camper).

I added a winky to be sure folks REALLY know that I was being, well, Captain Obvious...