Planning an extended Alpine Loop trip this summer. One thing made me very concerned - reports about marmots present there. I lived on a farm before and know what kind of damage rodents can cause, and heard of vehicles being disabled by rodents in general, and marmots in particular.

On the other hand, Internet search doesn't really come up with any incidents with L663 in particular, nor is there any information about what exactly marmots like to damage on L663 - just general information like "wrap your car in a tarp" or "apply repellent spray" (which I guess is what I'll have to resort to unless more specific information materializes).

Did anyone here have a run in with marmots or other rodents at all? Or, specifically, in Colorado?

Feeling really paranoid, but the memories of the mouse nest on the cylinder head tell me "dude, if you're not paranoid it doesn't mean they're not out there to get ya".

 

Just spread some scents around the car to keep the rodents away. No need to get paranoid about it.

 

I would try a combination of all the reportedly known deterrents to the ‘collective’ rodent specie’s damaging attacks. Irish Spring soap, moth *****, peppermint spray, solution of water/cayenne pepper; maybe even one of those ‘white noise’ generators. Sounds extreme, but so is dealing with a vehicle disabled with an expensive repair due to a rodent family looking to sharpen their fangs on your wiring harness.

 

Our Mini’s wiring was destroyed by rats a few times in Boston. Moth ***** and peppermint spray may have helped, but it seems that Honda Rodent Tape wrapped around all of the wiring has stopped the rats. I have also wrapped the Defender’s exposed wiring and haven’t had a problem yet.

 

You're kidding, right? Squirrels having lunch on my wiring loom caused me $3k repairs. Plenty of examples on this forum.

 

Marmots got into the wiring of my FJ when I parked at the Blue Lake trailhead below Quandary peak. I was stuck in 4x4 drive for the trip home. After that experience I bought a couple of realistic looking rubber snakes and started placing them under the engine and gas tank when parked in the high-country. No problems since. Now if I could just figure out a way to keep the mountain goats off the truck!

 

No I am not kidding. Scents that repel rodents. Plenty of different stuff you can use to repel such creatures. Just do a google search.

 

I've found blinking fairy lights like these https://a.co/d/01rMp3An to be effective. just set around the perimeter of your Defender (and trailer, if you're using one).

 

That’s a great idea. You just put them on the ground underneath?