Birds in my Jeep TJ?!

Jun 30, 2005 23 Replies

So I go on vacation for 2 weeks and leave my Jeep in the front driveway.... Yesterday I'm driving around and hear "chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp" constantly after driving away.



Apparently some bird decided that my jeep would be a great place to nest and have a family!



As far as I can tell the nest is somewhere in the back, possibly by the back gas tank. I can hear them, but I havn't been able to see them. I'm afraid now that I've driven away and returned the momma bird won't come back and the little ones will die (and stink).



I'm really not sure where the nest is... I don't see any straw or anything sticking out anywhere, so it's got to be way up there somewhere.



My question is:


1) Anyone have any idea where there is enough room for a bird to nest? (On top of the tank maybe?)


2) If I do leave the nest for a few weeks.. what damage might be possible? Wiring is what I'm mostly afraid of..


3) Any idea how to get in there and clean out the nest? Do I need to drop the fuel tank? If so anyone have any pointers?

Thanx!



--Mark



Hehe I think my dog would be upset with a cat joining the house.. ;-) Plus I'm not sure I could teach the cat to take care of and properly respect the jeep..

The dog on the otherhand likes the jeep... as long as she doesn't get her head stuck between the hard top and the roll bar.. (had to losen the hard top for her to get her head out...)

probably behind your spare tire I have seen this before

Goto your local do it yourself car wash place or use a power washer if you have one and use it to wash the TJ, besure to spray under it, and around the gas tank and spare tire areas.

Snow...

Besides a nest that might have been made in the spare tire, the fender jwels don't go all of the way to the back of the vehicle, and birds might like to fly between the fender well and the back of the vehicle. There is a significant amount of exposed wiring and stuff that can support a nest.

Just an FYI, I have verified the birds are not in the spare tire carrier. They're definatly in the back under the jeep and possibly above the gas tank (or behind it or???)

I'm still trying to figure out the best way to deal with this.. I'm not sure a power washer will help simply because I'm not sure where to wash.

Even if the birds survive and flee my jeep.. I'm afraid of the stench of rotting nest. (The jeep definatly smells "outdoorsy" compared to when I left for vacation... so I suspect there is probably a significant amount of bird crap somewhere.)

then goto a carwash that sprays the under carriage

Huh? No these are birds.. not a mechanical chirping noise when I drive.. (I know this because when I park the jeep.. they are still chirping!)

What is the way to access this area? Take off the inner fender cover? (I remember having to remove a cover on one side when I installed the trailer wiring....)

Probably not behind the tank, but above it. Again, there is considerable space between the back of the wheel wells and the rear body panel. It is pretty easy to see where to wash.

No. Get down on your hands and knees and look up. The space is wide open from the bottom ...

In that case, chew up a few worms and feed them ...

I remember seeing a site somewhere that this guy cut some bar above his gas tank and raised the tank a few inches for clearance... maybe enough room above it for the nest?

Troy

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