### Local California Woman Discovers Unexpected Mechanic in Her Car: Marmot Edition
In a turn of events that could only happen in the sunny state of California, a local woman was greeted by a furry surprise when she decided to pop the hood of her car last Tuesday. To her astonishment, nestled comfortably within the engine was a marmot, a rodent that, by all accounts, probably misunderstood the concept of “carpooling.”
The unidentified woman, who we can only assume possesses a flair for adventure—perhaps inspired by her daily dose of “Extreme Makeover: Animal Edition”—had only been trying to ensure her vehicle was road-ready for her impending trip to the local organic co-op. Instead, she found herself in a scene straight out of a low-budget nature documentary.
Reports indicate that when the woman first opened the hood, she was met with the sight of the marmot lounging on what she claimed was a “very expensive and totally not bumpy highway” that served as her engine. “It was just sitting there, looking like it was on a summer retreat,” she stated, recalling the level of calm she felt upon discovering her new ‘engine buddy.’ “I mean, who doesn’t want to share their car with a wild animal? It’s basically like having my own fluffy co-pilot.”
In true Californian style, she took to social media to share her remarkable find, quickly garnering enough likes and comments to rival any viral cat video. “I always wanted a pet, but who knew I’d find one in my car?” her post read. Followers eagerly reminded her that the critter was probably not house-trained and that owning a marmot was definitely not on the trendy pet list, much to her amazement.
After a brief debate over whether she should adopt the marmot or let him start a new life in the wild, she decided to call animal control. “I thought, why not give him a fighting chance?” she explained while simultaneously searching for marmot-themed merchandise online. The city’s animal experts arrived promptly; evidently, they were more accustomed to capturing wayward cats than rogue rodents living rent-free in car engines.
Once freed from its metallic abode, the marmot seemed uninterested in a life away from the woman’s vehicle, scurrying off only to find a cozy new spot beneath a nearby parked Tesla. Apparently, he believed, like many Californians, that electric cars offer a superior place to chill out—because, of course, “low emissions” takes on a whole new meaning in the marmot world.
Los Angeles animal control has since issued a cautionary notice, reminding locals that their engines might not be as private as they once thought. “And who knows?” a spokesperson quipped. “The next time you start your car, you might not just be risking a flat tire. You could be playing a game of ‘Guess That Resident Animal!’”
As for our intrepid Californian road-tripper, she has taken a break from her plans to visit the co-op, instead opting for countless hashtags related to her newfound furry friend. “Who needs a smooth ride when you can have a rodent hopping around under the hood?” she mused, presumably while scrolling through inventive ways to make a marmot-themed Instagram account. Because in America, sometimes, it’s just more fun to share your car with nature—engine included.
