Seasonality of Marmy / Porky Vehicle Wire Chewing at THs

[PaulVee]

Does anyone have any insight as to the seasonality of the marmot / porky trailhead vehicle wire-chewing problem? I have read the multiple threads out there about these critters attacking vehicles at trailheads. But I'm traveling from far away and purchased a 100 ft snow fence and this thing is HUGE and will take up lots of precious cargo space. I will be hitting the mountains in mid-late August. Have been out the last 5 years at this same time of year and have never had a problem (and have not used any sort of barrier or other deterents).

Does anyone know if for some reason the marmys / porkys go do something else later in the year to where it isn't the same problem as earlier in the year? Or have I just been really lucky and should bring my huge snow fence for mid-late August?

Thanks for any knowledge about the seasonality of this problem.

[HikerGuy]

My experience has been that porcupines are a problem in spring/early summer and marmots are a problem all of the time they are not hibernating. Which trailhead are you leaving your vehicle at? Some are consistently troublesome. What vehicle are you driving? Some have tasty wiring, others do not.

[PaulVee]

My experience has been that porcupines are a problem in spring/early summer and marmots are a problem all of the time they are not hibernating. Which trailhead are you leaving your vehicle at? Some are consistently troublesome. What vehicle are you driving? Some have tasty wiring, others do not.

Hi HikerGuy ... thanks for the response. I have a 2015 Xterra and have planned Columbia (N Cottonwood Creek), Wilson Peak (ROA - Silver Pick Rd), Uncompahgre (Nellie Creek), Crestone Needle (S Colony Lakes), Lindsey (Huerfano/Lily Lake) and possibly Bells / Pyramid or other Sawatch (Antero or Shav / Tab).

Thanks again!!

[CaptainSuburbia]

My experience has been that porcupines are a problem in spring/early summer and marmots are a problem all of the time they are not hibernating. Which trailhead are you leaving your vehicle at? Some are consistently troublesome. What vehicle are you driving? Some have tasty wiring, others do not.

Which vehicles have more tasty wiring?

[cottonmountaineering]

My experience has been that porcupines are a problem in spring/early summer and marmots are a problem all of the time they are not hibernating. Which trailhead are you leaving your vehicle at? Some are consistently troublesome. What vehicle are you driving? Some have tasty wiring, others do not.

Hi HikerGuy ... thanks for the response. I have a 2015 Xterra and have planned Columbia (N Cottonwood Creek), Wilson Peak (ROA - Silver Pick Rd), Uncompahgre (Nellie Creek), Crestone Needle (S Colony Lakes), Lindsey (Huerfano/Lily Lake) and possibly Bells / Pyramid or other Sawatch (Antero or Shav / Tab).

Thanks again!!

i think youll be fine, its later in the season and those are all popular trailheads

iirc hondas have tasty wiring

[Aphelion]

Anecdotally, Xterras are not tasty. That's what I drive, and I recently had my engine bay invaded by marmots while I was out for a couple days. They left feces scattered over every horizonal surface (and I do mean every horizontal surface), but nothing was chewed on.

[PaulVee]

Anecdotally, Xterras are not tasty. That's what I drive, and I recently had my engine bay invaded by marmots while I was out for a couple days. They left feces scattered over every horizonal surface (and I do mean every horizontal surface), but nothing was chewed on.

My experience has been that porcupines are a problem in spring/early summer and marmots are a problem all of the time they are not hibernating. Which trailhead are you leaving your vehicle at? Some are consistently troublesome. What vehicle are you driving? Some have tasty wiring, others do not.

Hi HikerGuy ... thanks for the response. I have a 2015 Xterra and have planned Columbia (N Cottonwood Creek), Wilson Peak (ROA - Silver Pick Rd), Uncompahgre (Nellie Creek), Crestone Needle (S Colony Lakes), Lindsey (Huerfano/Lily Lake) and possibly Bells / Pyramid or other Sawatch (Antero or Shav / Tab).

Thanks again!!

i think youll be fine, its later in the season and those are all popular trailheads

iirc hondas have tasty wiring

Thanks for the information y'all!! Really appreciate it!!

[HikerGuy]

A lot of folks on the forum have Nissan Xterras, maybe they will chime in with their experiences. Not sure if your model/year has soy-based wiring or not. Toyotas and Hondas are the prime targets.

I would not worry about critters at N Cottonwood Creek, ROA/Silver Pick, S Colony Lakes, Huerfano/Lily Lake, Antero/Shav/Tab, I've never had a problem at these trailheads as they are well below treeline.

Issues at the Maroon Lake are usually with porcupines earlier in the season. Should be okay later in season.

Nellie Creek might be the location of most concern, but historically have not read many reported problems here, so probably okay as well.

Known problem areas are American Basin, Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch, any area above treeline or remote areas with little traffic.

[Mtnman200]

A lot of folks on the forum have Nissan Xterras, maybe they will chime in with their experiences. Not sure if your model/year has soy-based wiring or not. Toyotas and Hondas are the prime targets.

I would not worry about critters at N Cottonwood Creek, ROA/Silver Pick, S Colony Lakes, Huerfano/Lily Lake, Antero/Shav/Tab, I've never had a problem at these trailheads as they are well below treeline.

Issues at the Maroon Lake are usually with porcupines earlier in the season. Should be okay later in season.

Nellie Creek might be the location of most concern, but historically have not read many reported problems here, so probably okay as well.

Known problem areas are American Basin, Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch, any area above treeline or remote areas with little traffic.

The Hunchback Pass TH near Beartown is another known problem area.

[HikerGuy]

Known problem areas are American Basin, Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch, any area above treeline or remote areas with little traffic.

The Hunchback Pass TH near Beartown is another known problem area.

Top of Wager Gulch Road above the Carson townsite is supposed to be bad also, a friend with a 4Runner had some marmots chew up wiring.

[E_A_Marcus_949]

Known problem areas are American Basin, Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch, any area above treeline or remote areas with little traffic.

I'm heading back there soon and will wrap my car again like I did last year - snow fencing with rocks. I have a Forester (yes, one of those Suby people), and I've heard they have tasty wires. Not worth it to me.

I'd only heard San Juans (specifically those above) have issues with critters - I haven't heard any anecdotes about animal issues in Sawatch or elsewhere, but I could be mistaken. Unc, RoA, etc. I may take precautions depending on time of year and current-season stories.

[PaulVee]

Known problem areas are American Basin, Silver Creek/Grizzly Gulch, any area above treeline or remote areas with little traffic.

I'm heading back there soon and will wrap my car again like I did last year - snow fencing with rocks. I have a Forester (yes, one of those Suby people), and I've heard they have tasty wires. Not worth it to me.

I'd only heard San Juans (specifically those above) have issues with critters - I haven't heard any anecdotes about animal issues in Sawatch or elsewhere, but I could be mistaken. Unc, RoA, etc. I may take precautions depending on time of year and current-season stories.

Thanks again everyone for all of the great info here!! As a note, I did park for day trips last year in mid-August at both American Basin and Silver Creek / Crizzly Gulch, and did not have any critters chowing on my Xterra wires. Perhaps they just aren't that tasty!