What A Mechanic Discovered Hidden In This Cop's Car Surprised The Entire Police Department.

This Took Place In Illinois

Getting a surprise from the mechanics usually spells bad news. This is followed by extensive work required in addition to a bill with high charges. You may have a good mechanic story with a surprise ending but nothing will match what was found in a squad car in McHenry County, Illinois. You will be shocked when you find what they discovered.

The deputy sheriff is part of the McHenry County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) in Illinois, employing just over 400 people. The sheriffs at MCSO are described on their website as "conservators of peace." The officers all have their own interesting stories they share with family and friends. Still, this officer went home with a story he will be sharing for years to come.

Returning To Work

The deputy who has chosen to remain anonymous had returned from a short vacation from serving and protecting his community. On his first day back, he realized his police car was having troubles driving properly. It wasn't a huge concern that something was wrong but he knew he had to take in for repair. Not the best day to return to work. This brave officer had no idea this was no regular appointment to the mechanic.

It's Only A Broken Headlight

The deputy sheriff took the squad car for standard maintenance in addition to replacing a headlight on the passenger side. The light did not work even though the bulb wasn't dead nor was the light broken. The man in blue assumed the repair was going to be standard, hence, have his squad car returned to him shortly. He had no idea what the real problem actually was.

Finding Something Out Of The Ordinary

As soon as the mechanic started working on the vehicle he found something strange. Mechanics see unusual stuff all the time but nothing like this. Deputy Sandra Rogers of the MCSO told reporters "The mechanic began replacing the headlight and noticed that the wire had been chewed," she revealed on June 23, 2017. The question became, what could have caused that? There were many possible explanations to that question.

Rodents Are Probably The Culprits

Fraying of the wires in a vehicle can happen for a lot of reasons. Rodents are known to get into cars and chew the wires, consequently, making it expensive to repair. The reality was whatever caused the problem, it needed to be fixed. The mechanic continued working but as he looked further he was puzzled even more. It became the most interesting broken headlight ever.

The Mechanic Was Playing Detective

The mechanic searched deeper in the car to find the exact cause of the damage. What he found was unexpected. "He started to fix the wiring when he saw a whole bunch of leaves," Deputy Rogers explained. His discovery convinced him further that it was those annoying rodents that caused all the damage. As he followed the leaves in the car, he came closer to finding his answer.

The Officer Wasn't Expecting This Answer

The officer left his squad car at the mechanic, returning to work. He assumed his vehicle would be ready for pick-up specially because it was a matter of replacing a broken headlight. He truly had no idea what the problem was. He received a phone call from the mechanic shortly after leaving his vehicle, the officer realized something was off. This was no regular repair.

His Return Back To The Mechanic Shop

The mechanic asked the officer to return to his shop immediately, admitting he couldn't explain anything over the phone. The officer was intrigued by the request so he borrowed another squad car and drove back to the shop. He was shocked when he found out what had happened to his squad car.

The Officer Had To Look Closely To Believe It

The mechanic couldn't wait to tell the officer what he had found in the squad car. The deputy sheriff had no idea what the mechanic discovered but he assumed it would require an extensive amount of work. When the mechanic showed the officer the car, all he could see was a pile of leaves. It wasn't until he took a closer look that he realized what was hiding in the green pile.

An Unexpected Find

"Inside the nest of leaves were four baby squirrels," Rogers revealed. Despite his long career as a mechanic, this professional had never seen anything of this sort. The police officer was shocked. It turned out a mother squirrel had squeezed herself and her four baby squirrels ins the arch of the car wheel. The mechanic announced this was a first for him.

Cute Baby Squirrels and Momma

As an animal lover, the mechanic wanted to ensure the squirrel's nest was not damaged. He removed the nest from the car's arch with such gentleness that the baby squirrels never woke up. "They were all in perfect condition and sleeping soundly when they were removed by the mechanics," Deputy Rogers admitted. Now the question became what do you do with the family of squirrels. Since the nest was in the officer's vehicle, the squirrels were technically his.

A Great Samaritan

"It was really cute because their eyes were still closed and they were all tucked in a circle," Rogers recalled. Once the critters were safely removed from the vehicle, the deputy took them. He placed the babies and their nest in a box. He placed the box in the exact spot the car was parked before being removed.

She Returned For Her Babies

The officer was worried about contaminating the nest, resulting in the mother abandon her offsprings. Nonetheless, the mother squirrel returned to the same spot she had left her babies. She picked them up and took them home. As it turns out, it is common for squirrels to make their homes inside of vehicles for the warmth they provide. Nonetheless, this can have deadly consequences for the innocent critters.

Keep Squirrels Away From Your Vehicle

The Canadian Wildlife Federation admits squirrels making cars their home is a common occurrence, particularly in rural areas. There are ways to make people's cars less appealing by following a couple of tips. Leaving the car hood open to keep the vehicle colder, using taste deterrents to avoid wires being bitten, and applying bitter apple spray keeps squirrels at bay.

Listen To The Experts

Talk to your mechanic or veterinarian about what you need to do to keep squirrels away from your car. It's important to follow the example of the great deputy from McHenry County Sheriff's Office. Yes, these critters can be annoying but as the police officer showed, displaying compassion and concerns for the tiny animals goes a long way. These squirrels can be thankful for the care and concern the officer displayed.