Squirrels go nuts for Toyota Aygo

It's not quite in the same league as 'Headless body found in Topless Bar', but as far as eye-catching headlines go, 'Squirrels ate my Toyota' is still pretty good.

The headline capped an article in UK publication Auto Express earlier this week. It tells the sad tale of Tony Steeles, a resident of the London borough of Croydon. Mr Steeles owns – or rather owned – a Toyota Aygo (like the one pictured), which became the target of 'rogue squirrels'.

After being set upon by the hungry rodents, the Aygo had its aerial "chewed off twice" and the car's oxygen sensor damaged by the squirrels. In addition, sundry rubber trim components were "gnawed away." The Aygo was the only car in the street providing sustenance to the squirrels, Mr Steeles told the magazine, suggesting furthermore that the Toyota might have been targeted due to its high bio-plastic content. These plastics are produced from plant life and are used in lieu of traditional mineral-based plastics – being carbon-neutral to manufacture. On the Aygo, they include door trims, seat cushioning, spare tyre cover and boot lining.

It's a story with a happy ending though. Mr Steeles' Aygo was repaired free of charge – on more than one occasion – by his local Toyota dealer, despite Toyota refuting any link between the bio-plastics in the car and the squirrel's appetite for destruction.

In an interview with Auto Express Toyota was reluctant to lay blame on the car's bio-plastics. A spokesman for the company admitted that wild animals do chew plastics on occasion – but not exclusively bio-plastics. Nevertheless, Toyota claims that its R&D staff would look into means of deterring rodents from snacking on plastic car parts.

In the long run, Mr Steeles traded in the Aygo on a new Yaris, which he keeps in the garage when it's not in use. While he finds that less convenient, it does ensure the squirrels go hungry, or at least turn to conventional food staples.

At the end of the article, Auto Express solicited comments from readers with experience of their cars being consumed by squirrels or other wildlife. To date, nobody has raised a hand...