Marmot ate my car (American Basin TH)

[wineguy]

That night, I didn't put out the mothballs or the rodent sonar thing I have. Expensive lesson, but could have been far worse if I didn't luck out flagging down that mechanic!

This is clearly a bigger problem when parking overnight. To what extent are critters a problem for dayhikers?

[habaceeba]

Yesterday I parked at 13,130' and as soon as I walked away one of those fat bastards jumped right up into my wheel well. I ran back over and scared it off, but when I returned from the hike he was there again. I don't think he did any damage since I drove the 2.5 hours (turned into 4) back home without issue.

[Veory]

This is clearly a bigger problem when parking overnight. To what extent are critters a problem for dayhikers?

My incident happened during a day hike, I had not slept there the night before.

[XterraRob]

Get a couple jugs of cayenne pepper and dump it all over the ground around your vehicle.

[dwoodward13]

I don't know if its true or just perception, but it does seem like there are more issues early in the summer season rather than later. I imagine its a combination of animals coming out of hibernation, and their normal food/salt sources covered in snow or not growing yet. Many of the newer cars have soy based insulation, so it makes for a tasty treat that's accessible. I imagine some people still have salt on the undercarriage left over from the winter too lol.

[Veory]

The real solution is to spray food residue on your neighboring car

[Choss Plate]

Something must be up with the Marmots this year. Two weeks ago, I got back to my truck, just to see one jump out from underneath. I swear he was smirking as he lumbered off. I greeted him with some choice vocabulary. Fortunately, it looks like he failed at his mischief, because I haven't encountered any problems yet. First time encountering that on a day hike for me too.

I've had much worse recurring problems with mice chewing up my engine's wiring overnight. I've since stocked up on the big cans of Tomcat spray and apply judiciously to my wheel wells when setting up camp. I wonder if Marmots hate that stuff too, and if I should consider spraying anytime I park in the alpine, not just overnight.

[greenonion]

The real solution is to spray food residue on your neighboring car

Takes a village. (Funny though)

[Andrew Russell]

I don't know if its true or just perception, but it does seem like there are more issues early in the summer season rather than later. I imagine its a combination of animals coming out of hibernation, and their normal food/salt sources covered in snow or not growing yet. Many of the newer cars have soy based insulation, so it makes for a tasty treat that's accessible. I imagine some people still have salt on the undercarriage left over from the winter too lol.

My experience has been that marmots feasting on vehicles mirrors this. Much more of a nuisance early in the season, I bathe my wheel wells and engine compartment in coyote urine.

[Flips]

On June 15 this year, I was awakened by a porcupine messing with the underside of my Jeep at the Silver Creek/Grizzly trailhead. I move down by the bathrooms for the rest of the night and had no more disturbance. In the morning my car neighbor where I encountered the porcupine said he heard the scratching around under his vehicle for the remainder of the night.

Last year after dropping Andrew and Andrea off 3K below Culebra during their FKT, I continued up the road and waited at the Upper Culebra trailhead while they summited and returned. For a couple hours I watched a marmot check the underside of each vehicle and shooed him away from mine. His burrow is right there at the parking area.

[wineguy]

This is clearly a bigger problem when parking overnight. To what extent are critters a problem for dayhikers?

My incident happened during a day hike, I had not slept there the night before.

Thanks, I just ordered some moth balls.

[d_baker]

This is clearly a bigger problem when parking overnight. To what extent are critters a problem for dayhikers?

My incident happened during a day hike, I had not slept there the night before.

Thanks, I just ordered some moth balls.

Ace Hardware typically carries moth balls too.
I put moth balls in pantyhose and tie off the end, then it's easy to drape over lines under vehicle. I have 5-6 of these to get coverage on all 4 corners of vehicle and hitch area, center of vehicle.
I keep it all in a mason jar with rubber gasket to contain the strong odor.