That time a duck family tried to move into my dredge pump in Oregon

We were working on a small river cleanup near Bend last spring, running a 10-inch cutterhead. I shut down for lunch and came back to find a mother mallard had built a nest RIGHT in the suction inlet, using sticks and mud. The crew had a good laugh, but it took us over an hour to gently clear it all out without hurting any eggs she'd already laid. Ever since then, I do a full visual check of the intake screen before I even think about hitting the starter. Anyone else had wildlife try to claim their equipment as a new home?

3 comments

3 Comments

hollyc928d ago

Honestly that beats my story of a squirrel trying to nest in my truck's air filter. Nature really doesn't care about our work schedules. Tbh I'd probably have spent the whole afternoon watching them instead of cleaning it out.

evan_wilson188d ago

A squirrel in the air filter is classic. @hollyc92, I once had a family of mice turn my mower's engine block into a five-star hotel, complete with a shredded insulation spa. My crew found me just staring at it, completely forgetting we had a driveway to seal. Productivity took a big hit that day. What's the weirdest place you've found animals setting up shop?

blakem373d ago

Peppermint oil soaked cotton balls near the engine block works wonders to keep them out.