How many of you had this happen?

[momraising5boyz]

Woke up this morning and went out to start breakfast. This was my morning welcome. First time this has happened. The table was clean. DH seems to think squirrels gathering nesting materials???

[nvs4602]

Oh my mote blew away. It said thanks for trading me table clothes and covers. Mine was getting in bad shape. And looking at that big beautiful RV made me think you could afford another one.

Joking. But you never know.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by momraising5boyz

DH seems to think squirrels gathering nesting materials???

Probably. I had an old padded vinyl tablecloth that I 'recycled' to cover something in the back yard. Then I watched the squirrels tear it apart to gather nesting materials in the fall. They had a nice padded place to rest their heads in the winter.

[cboss]

Squirrels can do all kinds of damage. While Hosting in GA last year the squirrels ate/chewed the wiring harness in my TV. $1600 later I was back on the road. I'd gladly swap a tablecloth for the harness.

[Aussieguy]

squirrels nesting material


I hate it when they find my 300.00 anchor rope

[Flybob]

Very possible that previous occupant of that site spilled some food material on that area and an animal was just trying to get to it. I had that happen to a propane hose that I disconnected when I had meat grease on my hands and it was transferred to the hose. It is frustrating, but remember we are intruders into their home territory.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by cboss

Squirrels can do all kinds of damage. While Hosting in GA last year the squirrels ate/chewed the wiring harness in my TV. $1600 later I was back on the road. I'd gladly swap a tablecloth for the harness.

I lost two or three pigtails (and bottles of propane) and one main propane hose (regulator to iron pipe) to the squirrels before I figured out to:

1. Turn off the propane except when being actively used, and
2. Jacket the hoses in Carlon conduit.

The squirrels haven't touched the propane in the subsequent five years or so. The 1/2" Carlon conduit just fits over the pigtails. The 3/4" Carlon conduit just fits over the main propane line. Cut it (hacksaw or wood saw) long enough so it overlaps the metal crimps on both ends.)

Lowe's used to carry these 10' lengths, but now carries Cantex in 25' lengths. Home Depot has Carlon but only in 25' and 100' lengths.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Flybob

Very possible that previous occupant of that site spilled some food material on that area and an animal was just trying to get to it. I had that happen to a propane hose that I disconnected when I had meat grease on my hands and it was transferred to the hose. It is frustrating, but remember we are intruders into their home territory.

That'd be my guess.
Unless... your kids didn't want their vegetables and stashed them in there to make you believe they ate them so they could then get up from the table.

We used to find stuff in the darndest places!

[Sunseeker16]

Critters happen. That's just part of it.

[momraising5boyz]

Originally Posted by Flybob

Very possible that previous occupant of that site spilled some food material on that area and an animal was just trying to get to it. I had that happen to a propane hose that I disconnected when I had meat grease on my hands and it was transferred to the hose. It is frustrating, but remember we are intruders into their home territory.

Maybe but with Covid I carry Clorox Cleanup and I sprayed the table and benches down and cleaned before putting my table and bench covers down so that should have cleaned any spilled food [emoji849]

[momraising5boyz]

Originally Posted by 5picker

That'd be my guess.

Unless... your kids didn't want their vegetables and stashed them in there to make you believe they ate them so they could then get up from the table.



We used to find stuff in the darndest places!

[emoji1787] It's just DH and I and I only cook vegetables he likes so he doesn't do that anymore.

[momraising5boyz]

Originally Posted by Sunseeker16

Critters happen. That's just part of it.

Yeah I know. This is just the first time in the 4 years we have been coming here this happened. They usually try and carry my salt and pepper shakers off. That stopped when DH built me a little caddy.

[GravelRider]

Originally Posted by cboss

Squirrels can do all kinds of damage. While Hosting in GA last year the squirrels ate/chewed the wiring harness in my TV. $1600 later I was back on the road. I'd gladly swap a tablecloth for the harness.

Just for future reference, if you have comprehensive insurance coverage for your TV, animal damage is covered... Whether hitting a deer or having wires chewed, it's all unforeseen animal damage. I had $3000 of damage done to my truck a few months ago by an enterprising little bastard of a chipmunk. All I paid was my $100 comprehensive deductible.

[campingkelly]

Conduit is a great idea. Have not lost a hose to squirrels in a few years but using conduit seems like cheap insurance

[Petersb]

Originally Posted by cboss

Squirrels can do all kinds of damage. While Hosting in GA last year the squirrels ate/chewed the wiring harness in my TV. $1600 later I was back on the road. I'd gladly swap a tablecloth for the harness.

Been there done that. Mine was 1200 but was done by a rat or mouse the wiring has soy in the insulation they love it

[Reverse_snowbird]

Squirrels are amazing creatures. We have a friend with a small scale railroad in his back yard. The rails are made of aluminum and those darned squirrels would sharpen their teeth on the aluminum rails and damage them. He'd look out his back window and see them busily sharpening their teeth.

[flyflotrtim]

We have gray tree squirrels and chickaree squirrels at home. they get into and chew everything imaginable, plastic buckets and chairs, redwood decking, hoses, valve stems, plants of every type, my fingers would tire attempting to list them all.

[cboss]

I tried squirrel repellent sold at TSC, but it didn't seem to make much difference. I've found that 7-1/2 shot does the trick.

[jlynn721]

Originally Posted by momraising5boyz

Woke up this morning and went out to start breakfast. This was my morning welcome. First time this has happened. The table was clean. DH seems to think squirrels gathering nesting materials???Attachment 278901

Yep

[Midwest Ed]

Several years ago I was driving my 1999 Ford Ranger in the middle lane, in Chicago rush hour traffic, when the accelerator stuck. All of a sudden the RPMs just kept increasing! First thought it was the floor mat on pedal but no. After a measure of panic I put it in neutral. Of course the engine started to red line+. More panic caused me to turn the engine off. Surprise, no steering. Turned key on partially and somehow made my way to shoulder while slowing from maybe 100 mph.

Opened hood and found nothing. Not sure what prompted me but eventually I felt under the air cleaner, on top of intake manifold and felt a rock. Pulled it out to actually find a walnut that had managed to jam the throttle linkage.