When dispatched for a gas odor coming from a disabled vehicle along Woodbury Pike in Roaring Spring Wednesday night, eight Friendship Fire Company crew members were surprised to find a live groundhog curled up inside the car’s engine compartment instead.

On the scene, firefighter Landon Beers said it was his “first time seeing an animal in a vehicle like this.”

In an attempt “to make room for itself or escape,” the large animal successfully chewed through two lines located at the rear of the engine compartment, according to the Friendship Fire Company Facebook post.

Despite poking and using a water can extinguisher to move the groundhog, Beers said it wouldn’t come out of its homemade habitat.

They did, however, give the creature some water to drink, laughing about the situation.

The crew was on the scene for 15 minutes until a tow truck arrived to take the disabled vehicle away with its furry friend still inside.

With the vehicle back with its owner, the Facebook post states that the fire company hopes the groundhog “feels safe to exit the vehicle after it’s in a safe location with no one around.”

“Despite the damage to the vehicle, the owner even had a good laugh at the situation,” according to the post.

With this situation fresh in the public’s mind, Beers said it’s important for people to be aware of outside animals crawling inside vehicles this time of year.

“If you’re cold, they’re cold,” the Facebook post states.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.