Marmot ate my car (American Basin TH)

[blazintoes]

July 2014 on the west side of American Basin I drove my Forester in Burns Gulch to 11,700 for American, Jones and Niagra. Same thing happened. Clicked the key fob and nothing then a marmot aka mountain devil poked his head out from under the hood with wires in his mouth. It tore through the radiator, fan, wires and also chewed the negative battery cable. I fixed that and coasted into Silverton with a smoking engine. Later I heard that radiator fluid is an elixir and clearly drunk out of his mind he destroyed my vehicle. After costly repairs and more research I learned they will stay away from coyote urine. I buy and use liberally on and around the tires.

[mtree]

Mothballs aren't effective. Coyote urine? Dunno. I wouldn't count on it. I wouldn't count on any deterrent being effective. The best defense is a physical barrier. Or maybe a trap!

I wash the underside of my vehicle late spring to remove as much salt as possible. Not sure if that helps, but it can't hurt. A buddy of mine just had his wires eaten while camping in the San Juan's last summer. Locals told him it happens all the time. They fixed him up, but it took a couple days. He asked for best defense and they said a barrier is the only thing. All the supposed deterrents are just placebos, but they'd gladly sell them to you! And its not just marmots. Porcupines, mice, chipmunks, rats, and any other varmint nearby can be the muncher. You leave your vehicle in the wilderness often enough and its bound to happen. I actually think its more common in areas of high activity. Animals know when the food trucks arrive! So I park away from the other vehicles if possible. No guarantees, but that's my strategy. At Culebra I parked a solid half mile from the upper parking lot for that exact reason. (No one had any troubles.)

Outside of a physical barrier I wish there was a surefire deterrent. Until then, I'm not into spending all that time shrink wrapping my vehicle. I'll just leave a pan of antifreeze under my car. Hey marmot! The bar is open!!!

[randalmartin]

For physical barrier I really like the tarp concept showed earlier in this thread. Big tarp, drive over the top of it and tie together. Pretty simple and effective.

[kyrawhitworth]

Gotta marmot proof those cars.

Ah yes, the Bugaboos! Honestly, I may have to try this method. Ridiculous as it seems it would have to work!

[Veory]

I'm not so sure, seems like marmots could just chew right through the tarp, no? Also seems like a lot of effort to put up early in the morning.

What I really need is a motion detector hooked up to an airhorn under the car

[SkaredShtles]

<snip> I'll just leave a pan of antifreeze under my car. Hey marmot! The bar is open!!!

I know you are probably joking, but don't do this - antifreeze is toxic and will kill the marmots.

[two lunches]

reposting: i bought this rodent repellent device 5 years ago and haven't had an issue: https://a.co/d/dke2rOc it is motion-activated and will sound an alarm, as well as flashing lights. it has scared the bejeezus out of me several times walking past it, so i know it works lol

it's zip tied to my car battery and i switch it on as soon as i get to my parking location. takes a fresh set of AA batteries once a year to stay happy (in spite of the many times i forget to turn it off before driving home)

[Veory]

Update to anyone who cares:

Thankfully insurance is covering the majority of the costs, but since I need a full transmission replacement I will have to pay a fair percent of the part cost since it's newer than the one I have.
But between the original tow, repairs to the tube/ fluid in Gunny, the second tow to colorado springs, and the transmission replacement, the total cost is just over $12000, of which I'll have to pay about $3000 :/.

[seano]

July 2014 on the west side of American Basin I drove my Forester in Burns Gulch to 11,700 for American, Jones and Niagra. Same thing happened. Clicked the key fob and nothing then a marmot aka mountain devil poked his head out from under the hood with wires in his mouth. It tore through the radiator, fan, wires and also chewed the negative battery cable. I fixed that and coasted into Silverton with a smoking engine. Later I heard that radiator fluid is an elixir and clearly drunk out of his mind he destroyed my vehicle. After costly repairs and more research I learned they will stay away from coyote urine. I buy and use liberally on and around the tires.

Holy crap! That radiator is insane! I've never taken precautions or had problems with marmots in the Lower 48, but may have to re-evaluate. (Mice and chipmunks are another story...) @two lunches' device looks pretty slick.

Up in Canada, I chicken-wired my car the one time I visited the Bugaboos, and gave the underside of my car a spritz of bear spray in a few other places. No problems there so far, either.

[mtree]

(Mice and chipmunks are another story...) @two lunches' device looks pretty slick.

I've had friends install similar to deter voles, rats, and mice. No effect on them. If it worked there would be no more mice problems in houses. There is no data to support ultrasonic waves repel rodents - or marmots - in situ. Circumstantial only. Just because you sprayed werewolf urine around your car and no marmots attacked it doesn't mean it works. If that was the case then doing absolutely nothing works because I've never had my wires eaten! Its more snake oil. Heck, just read through the forums on marmots and even shining lights at them, stomping on your floorboards, or starting your car doesn't deter them! But, its your money and if you think it works go for it.

Once I thought those ultrasonic whistles installed on your vehicle will alert deer to avoid collisions. Well, then a deer ran smack into the side of my car! So much for those. That doesn't include the many near misses either.

And to the OP and those expenses... OUCH! That sucks. Maybe I will shrink wrap my vehicle. Although there's no evidence that will work either.

[supranihilest]

This is why I rig my vehicles with action flick-style bombs that just explode whenever a wire, any wire, is cut. Stops marmots, thieves, and would-be bomb disposal teams in their tracks. Can't have problems with a disabled vehicle if you have no vehicle. Take that!

[astranko]

This is why I rig my vehicles with action flick-style bombs that just explode whenever a wire, any wire, is cut. Stops marmots, thieves, and would-be bomb disposal teams in their tracks. Can't have problems with a disabled vehicle if you have no vehicle. Take that!

Did you get a wire cut on top of Emma Burr sometime last year?

If we're doing explosive reconstructions of the alpine: Mount Lady Washington could use ~21ft taken off it's key col.