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Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
#50661 07/07/17 01:30 AM
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Marcus Offline OP
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Hey y'all! First post, so apologies if this is a stupid question!

I'm a bit worried about the rodent problem at Trail Camp. I was considering carrying some shake-away rodent pellents in a ziplock bag, and scattering them around my camp.

They're essentially pellets soaked in fox urine.

As they're biodegradable - I don't see this as littering.

Alternatively, I could just pack them out again - i.e. leave them in a ziplock bag, punch some holes in it, and leave it in/next to my tent.

Any thoughts?

Last edited by Marcus; 07/07/17 01:32 AM.
Re: Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
Marcus #50662 07/07/17 03:51 AM
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I'm curious what your concern is. The bear can should keep your food and any other scented items safe. If you're worried about chewing, just collapse your tent before you leave on summit day and weight it with a few rocks. These pellets may keep pikas away, but I doubt the marmots would be deterred. And it's the marmots that rule TC.

Re: Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
Bulldog34 #50663 07/07/17 05:30 AM
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Hey Bulldog - yes, marmots chewing through my tent and ruining it! Or even just wandering into it, and pooping/peeing over my stuff.

Never heard of a pikas before! Learn something new everyday! smile

Are they also present at trail camp?

I just worry that I'll go to sleep, and wake up to find that I'm being eaten alive by rabid marmots grin laugh

Re: Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
Marcus #50666 07/07/17 08:28 AM
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Marmots, mice and pikas don't chew on people. Only on tents and packs where they can smell food inside. You're way over-worried about a minor issue.

Now tell us what you are doing about altitude acclimatization. wink

Re: Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
Steve C #50670 07/07/17 09:10 AM
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Haha! Yes, I was only partly kidding - I've never camped outdoors before, so I'm not really sure what to expect!

I've been hiking loads in preparation - 11+ mile hikes on weekends etc. But not a whole lot at altitude.

I'll spend the day before the hike chilling at Whitney Portal - hopefully that'll be enough!

If not, I'm mentally prepared to turn back - it'll be a fun hike either way!

Re: Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
Marcus #50684 07/08/17 04:04 AM
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Marcus, if you just follow the two points I mentioned above, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. One other note: marmots love salt, so if you have any clothing items with dried sweat, put those in your bear can or take to the summit with you. I have a set of trekking poles with badly-chewed wrist straps to prove it.

Advice for a first time camper at Trail Camp: it's all rock so you cannot stake your tent. Leave the stakes behind - it's just useless weight. Be sure to take about 30 feet of extra cord with you to tie your tent guylines to rocks. It can be very windy at TC and you want to secure these lines very well.

Good luck and enjoy the experience.

Re: Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
Bulldog34 #50688 07/08/17 01:12 PM
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Thanks Bulldog, that's a great tip, should shave off a few grams!

It's hard to tell from the pictures - I just assumed that it would be sandy, and easy to push stakes in!

Re: Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
Bulldog34 #50690 07/08/17 01:49 PM
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Although - I have a freestanding 2 layer tent - so presumably I won't need any lines. Maybe some rocks, or just my pack inside the tent to weigh it down (when I'm not in it)?

Is that what people usually do with freestanding tents?

I purchased the ALPS Lynx 1.

Last edited by Marcus; 07/08/17 02:32 PM.
Re: Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
Marcus #50694 07/08/17 03:01 PM
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Best to put some several rocks in it if you leave it up when you go to the summit. Wind gusts have taken tents away before.

Re: Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
Steve C #51658 08/16/17 08:11 AM
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Just to let everyone know - I actually purchased this product with every intention of taking it up Whitney...but...it stinks...of urine.

no surprises there I suppose, but for some reason I just thought fox urine wouldn't smell that bad to us big 'ol humans. Unfortunately it does, so keeping it in a pack would've been disgusting.

As it was, I almost ruined a rental car by putting it in the boot.

This was in it's still sealed packaging mind you - wrapped up in 2-3 plastic bags...

I just ended up chucking it in a bin in Vegas before heading out to Whitney...

Don't do it!

Re: Shake-away rodent repellant pellets?
Marcus #51663 08/16/17 08:38 AM
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LOL!! grin

Now Las Vegas stinks!! grin


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