25 September 2023 , 15:19
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Stunned car wash workers received a lovely surprise at work - when they randomly found a “cute” groundhog inside the bumper of a motor they were cleaning.
The car’s owner took it to the car wash as she thought a bird had got stuck in her front grille and wanted to set the winged animal free - but it turned out not to be a bird after all. Instead, it was a groundhog, using the engine to warm itself up.
The Mike’s Car Wash staff took the vehicle to a mechanic’s workshop next door in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to help set the rodent free. The quick-thinking Jiffy Lube staff called Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control to help the cute beast.
As the animal-saviours made their way to the site, the mechanics set about dismantling the car’s bumper in order to free the groundhog - making sure that it didn’t run off, in case it needed attention from the animal care experts. Jiffy Lube manager Dalton Brenneke described it to local media as an “odd day at work."
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It was a multi-person operation to get the groundhog out (Jam Press)“The last thing I expected was to be pulling apart a front bumper to remove a groundhog,” he said. "He was cute, but definitely mad that we were trying to take him from his warm home. We ended up having to take off the front skid plate to give him room to leave the engine bay.
“After we got him out, he ran to the back of the car and hopped up in the rear suspension. We had to take off the left rear tyre to get him out!” The groundhog, nicknamed Mike by his new friends - or foes - was taken away by a Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control expert to be checked for injuries or ailments.
The cute groundhog was taken out the motor and looked after by animal care specialists (Jam Press)The female driver was not charged for removing the groundhog from her vehicle according to Brenneke - perhaps because she had done enough to brighten their day already. The cheeky rodent had, however, chewed through some wires which ended up needing $500 worth of repairs.
But the local community on Facebook were delighted to see this cute story with a happy ending. One local resident joked: “How'd he expect to find a shadow in there?” Another commented: “He's so cute.” Vanessa added with glee: “This made our local news!”