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What kind of critter did this to my garage today?

Came home from Denver today to a garage covered in motor oily smears and prints. My wife swears none of it was there when she went to work this morning and it did look like it had been undisturbed since it happened.

http://fototime.com/6F6FBBC2D0D51A3/standard.jpg

http://fototime.com/F5DDC751B981359/standard.jpg

http://fototime.com/4E8A6ADD8133620/standard.jpg

http://fototime.com/C35C2804DAAF142/standard.jpg

The mess is actually a lot more extensive than in these photos. I sprayed all the spots down with citrus degreaser and wiped most of it away. The critter turds are worrisome because Hanta Virus is a problem out here and can be contracted by mouse turds. I think it usually happens when they get dried out and people inhale the dust while cleaning them. Hopefully, these are fresh enough for this not to be a problem. I sprayed the turds down to also cut down on dust before I cleaned them up. No sign of entry, gnawing, escape, death and no smell. What the hell did this? Turds are too big for mice, too small for rats and there are no footprints anywhere. I think there are even some oil smudges on the hood of my 993 now. WTF?

Armadillo? A small one? Kaisen probably nailed it tho...tough to tell from the photos...tracks pattern not really clear in the oil.

"Dead one" probably true if it injested enough oil.

Yes, a rabbit would have turds about like this and feet that could do this. But how the hell did he get in and then back out? I'm not aware of any openings to the outside. If he ran in when my wife backed the car out this morning, where is he now? He didn't run out when we pulled back into the garage tonight. I didn't hear any noises in there and I have been around wounded rabbits before.

You left out used oil for that poor bunny to drink? I'm calling the SCPA and peta.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee (Post 5720770)

http://media2.wdtn.com//photo/2010/1...01_320_240.JPG

Good one, Byron!

Tom

Byron, you think Eddie is in Rick Lee's garage??

That's a lot bigger than a rabbit.

Eddie's not a rabbit, Hugh.

Coon, BTW, should have left out some anti-freeze instead. Those critters drop after drinking glycol!

Glycol poisoning is a truly awful way to die - crystal formations in the kidneys followed by rapid failure and bathing in the toxic byproducts of your own cellular respiration. Pretty cruel. At least a bullet is quick and humane.

Guys, this is ARIZONA, not the mid west. Aint no squirrels here, nor many rabbits and please do not say its an armadillo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grog (Post 5720794)

You left out used oil for that poor bunny to drink? I'm calling the SCPA and peta.

Don't forget EPA and a Hazmat crew to clean up the oil spill! I don't recognize the tracks, but they sure don't appear like any bunny tracks I'm familiar with. Since only the critter's "fingertips" appear to have made contact with the oil, I don't think we're getting a true picture of the "tracks". Not questioning Joe (I've only seen one armadillo in my life years ago in Fl.), but "could" it be a 'dillo's fingertips?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaisen (Post 5720780)

rabbit

yep.ooks like ra-batt tracks to me. course you folks have critters out there we don't see here.....

I've seen lots of armadillos, but never one in AZ and they have claws. Whatever made this mess had padded feet. I still can't find any sign of life in the garage and no smell.