A few visitors of some national parks around the country have found their car to become a bit of a home for some unwanted travelers. Specifically at Mineral King in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks in California (though it can occur in other places), marmots have become known predators to vehicles, occasionally munching on radiator hoses and car wiring.
To prevent this, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks recommends washing the outside, undercarriage, and engine compartment of your vehicle before visiting, in addition to wrapping a tarp around your entire vehicle and covering the wheel wells. They ask that people avoid using anything toxic to prevent the animals from making a home or meal out of your car.
Protecting cars from rodents is not limited to National Parks. People find wires and tubing chewed by mice and rodents every year, no matter where their car is parked, and it can destroy a car’s ability to function properly. Sometimes it’s because the wire insulation smells or tastes good to them, sometimes it’s just subsequent damage from nesting. That’s why some car companies sell rodent tape, a tape treated with capsaicin (the active component in chili peppers), to deter wildlife.
Capsaicin is used to deter animals in plenty of other cases as well. It’s used in bear spray, preventing bear attacks without creating long-term harm on the animal, and it’s used on some plants and vegetables as a pesticide for animals like rabbits, deer, and much more.
It seems like there’s a good chance this spicy tape wouldn’t be enough to stop marmots from getting in your car at national parks. They’ll find something to chew or lick. But for your garage, driveway, or any other spot where you might be leaving your car for an extended period of time, it could do the trick. Honda specifically sells the tape for their cars, but there’s no reason it couldn’t work on others.
If you are visiting Mineral King at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, make sure you follow their tips on protecting your car from marmots below.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks:
Wash the outside, undercarriage, and engine compartment of your vehicle before visiting.
Physically block marmots by driving over a tarp and then wrapping it around your entire vehicle. Cover the wheel wells. Wrapping chicken wire around the vehicle is no longer advised, as marmots have learned to get around the wire.
Use only non-toxic methods to prevent marmots from accessing your vehicle. Do not use any poison or substance that pose a risk to the environment, human or animal health, safety or property.
If you visit Mineral King, especially before August, check for possible damage when you return to your vehicle. Before starting your car, look under the hood for marmots or signs of chewing. Check hoses, belts, electrical wiring, insulation, and radiator fluid level. Inspect under the vehicle for signs of coolant or brake fluid leakage.
Turn key to “on”, but do not start your vehicle. Check that all indicator lights come on. If lights don’t come on, wiring may have been damaged.
Start the engine and listen for unusual sounds.
Report any damage to your vehicle.