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Is this marmot problem just when you park overnight at the trailhead, or it's a concern for day trips also?

mtalll wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 7:21 am Is this marmot problem just when you park overnight at the trailhead, or it's a concern for day trips also?

Marmots are primarily diurnal and porcupines are nocturnal. In my experience, marmots are a problem during the day and porcupines during the night.

Buy a giant container or two of cayenne pepper and make a ring around your vehicle and maybe add some more underneath. If it's not raining or the ground isn't too flooded, I guarantee it'll keep ground rodents like marmots and porcupines away.

It's cost effective, easy to apply, and irritates the s**t out of them.

XterraRob wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 8:28 pm Buy a giant container or two of cayenne pepper and make a ring around your vehicle and maybe add some more underneath. If it's not raining or the ground isn't too flooded, I guarantee it'll keep ground rodents like marmots and porcupines away.

It's cost effective, easy to apply, and irritates the s**t out of them.

Ah, a follower of “leave no trace minus cayenne pepper”

Briere wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 10:20 pm Ah, a follower of “leave no trace minus cayenne pepper”

Yup, that's me

XterraRob wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 8:28 pm Buy a giant container or two of cayenne pepper and make a ring around your vehicle and maybe add some more underneath. If it's not raining or the ground isn't too flooded, I guarantee it'll keep ground rodents like marmots and porcupines away.

It's cost effective, easy to apply, and irritates the s**t out of them.

Or is it?
Perhaps rodents like mice and voles. But who has studied to see if its effective on marmots or porcupines? Many animals don't like it do to the taste or smell while its ON an item they might eat. Unless they're going to eat the ground around your vehicle, they might walk right over it. I used it on a garden and it didn't do anything. Something still ate it all up. Dunno what. I had a cat who looooved hot pepper. The stupid animal would pick dried chilis out of a hanging ristra and sneak behind the couch and chew on it for hours. Ate the whole thing except for the stem. Bizarro.

mtree wrote: ↑Fri Jun 02, 2023 12:12 pm Or is it?
Perhaps rodents like mice and voles. But who has studied to see if its effective on marmots or porcupines? Many animals don't like it do to the taste or smell while its ON an item they might eat. Unless they're going to eat the ground around your vehicle, they might walk right over it. I used it on a garden and it didn't do anything. Something still ate it all up. Dunno what. I had a cat who looooved hot pepper. The stupid animal would pick dried chilis out of a hanging ristra and sneak behind the couch and chew on it for hours. Ate the whole thing except for the stem. Bizarro.

"LNT purists hate him, find out how XterraRob used the power of Google to discover that cayenne pepper was an effective, natural deterrent for porcupines, marmots, squirrels, and chipmunks."

https://cottagelife.com/outdoors/porcup ... g-plywood/
https://pestpointers.com/scents-that-po ... o-use-them
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/get-rid- ... ally-26459
https://allenontravel.wordpress.com/202 ... -miseries/
https://eliteextermination.com/en/news/ ... f-marmots/

What is this Google you speak of?!

I guess my next question is where is this (the snow fence) needed?

It sounds like San Juan (Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch Trailhead area) but should it be done at all San Juan mountains?

I am not sure about:
Rock of Ages TH, Yankee Boy Basin TH, and I assume not needed at the Durango Train parking? Is it needed anywhere in the Sangre de Cristo range?

Snow fence has been bought. I plan to use it definitely at Grizzly Gulch TH (redcloud, handies, sunshine) but is it also needed/recommended at the Matterhorn Creek TH (wetterhorn)?

I only used it at Grizzly Gulch, but I've heard Wetterhorn could be good to do it at. I haven't had any nor heard of any issues in Sangres or Sawatch, but I could be mistaken. My friend did hear something throughout the night one time in the Elks off Indy Pass.

friendly reminder- if you find yourself in a rodent-caused predicament (or other offroad issue) you can reach Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery 24/7 Hotline: 720-722-1204
https://www.co4x4rnr.org/
this should NEVER be your Plan A, but it's a good number to have in case of emergency. as always, make good decisions.