Nuisance Wildlife Steals Gear, Licks Hikers, and Causes Thousands in Vehicle Damage
Experts Attribute Aggressive Behavior to Marmots’ Craving for Salt and Moisture
National Park Service Recommends Tarp Wrapping to Protect Vehicles from Destructive Rodents.
Cute yet surprisingly cunning yellow-bellied marmots are causing severe headaches for hikers and campers in California’s Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Sitting 7,800 feet above sea level, Mineral King Valley has become infamous for these ground-squirrel-like rodents, which routinely chew through gear, steal boots and hiking poles, lick sleeping visitors, and render parked vehicles completely inoperable.
Park authorities warn that while marmots are common in high-altitude zones, their disruptive behavior spikes between May and mid-July when they converge on trailheads seeking food and salt. Incidents have grown increasingly bold; hikers report marmots stealing gear, acting aggressively when confronted, and even crawling onto sleeping visitors. The primary threat, however, lies under car hoods—marmots frequently climb into engine compartments to gnaw on radiator hoses and electrical wiring, resulting in repair bills exceeding $1,000 and leaving travelers stranded in remote areas.
Wildlife expert Dan Blumstein explained that the animals are drawn to sweat-soaked backpacks, hiking sticks, and vehicle fluids due to an intense craving for salt and moisture. To combat the issue, the National Park Service previously advised drivers to wrap their entire vehicles in heavy plastic tarps to prevent marmots from accessing the undercarriage. However, officials note that as the peak hiking season winds down, the immediate threat to vehicles has temporarily subsided.
