Travel Tip 13: Watch Out for the Pack Rats!

They can cause thousands of dollars in damage.

I first heard of pack rats while hiking in Nevada. The two ladies who invited me pointed to some bundled brush and told me pack rats had made that nest. It wasn't until more than a year later that I heard the words pack rat again in Arizona.

Almost everyone at camp had popped their hoods, and I had no idea why. It seemed a peculiar thing to do. I meant to ask the neighbors, but I never got around to it. The second time I returned to this campground, I saw people doing it again. This time, I asked.

The answer? Pack rats.

People popped their hoods at night to let the cold air circulate. That made the vehicle's interior inhospitable for pack rats who would otherwise enjoy the warmth of the engine and the vehicle's overall protection from the wind.

So, exactly how bad are pack rats? Is it really a big deal?

One couple shared online that pack rats had cost them $1,200 in truck repairs. Why is the damage so expensive? When these animals build nests in your vehicle, they chew through your wires and other materials. Who knows what they might destroy or disconnect while they make themselves comfortable?

Your batteries?

Your headlights?

Your brakes?

After giving up my property in New Mexico, friends in Silver City allowed me to stay with them while I regrouped. I came across pack rats yet again.

While there, pack rats got into the car they regularly used for trips to town. Thankfully, the pack rats did no damage and were more of a nuisance than anything else.

Surprisingly, I had no issues with pack rats.

While staying on the Silver City property, pack rats neither made nests in the RV nor my FJ Cruiser. My friends asked me about my strategies and determined that my solutions might be more effective than theirs.

So, what did I do to keep the pack rats away, and how can you do the same? Next week, I'll share the following information with paid subscribers:

• Where you are most likely to encounter pack rats

• How to know whether pack rats might be in your area

• What I did to keep pack rats out of my RV and FJ Cruiser

See you then!