Boat Cushion Damage from animal
 

Sometime over the last two weeks, both myself (minor damage) and my next door neighbor (serious damage) had damage done to our boat seat cushions. Boats were docked on Winnipesaukee. Some sort of animal got in and chewed holes into the foam right through the vinyl, left tears in cushions, etc. Even chewed up a Bizer map. We can both see evidence of paw claws....looks like something small, like maybe a mink or weasel. Has anyone ever heard or seen damage like this to boats that are covered? And if so, what can be done to prevent it, other than catching the animal? In all my years of boating, never saw or experienced anything like this.

Can't help with your specific situation.

This seems to be an odd year for animals.
I see turkeys where they never were.
I see more deer.
I see more bears.
Are there more chip monks and squirrels this year?
And the annual fox.

A bear got into my neighbors garden.
She telephoned Fish & Game.
All she was told was to soak rags in amonia. And scatter about.
Doesn't seem like a good solution as the amonia will/may evaporate too quickly.

Hope others can chime in. Recovering boat cushions can be expensive.

We now have a total of three boats with seat damage over approx. 400 ft of frontage. All show the same chewing of seat cushions. Lots of $$$ damage. Just incredible......

This sounds like a job for the Havahart trap:

http://www.havahart.com/advice/anima...ing/trap-guide

Not too expensive, easy to use and humane. We've had great luck (and even some fun) using these to catch and relocate pests. Peanut butter seems to be the best bait. Happy trapping!

Mild winter was a lot of the reason, animals faired well...

must be the mild winter we had here, higher survival rate, = more malicious doings

Red Squirrels
 

I have had similar damage caused by red squirrels. They use the foam to line nests and love to chew on anything to sharpen their teeth. Peanut butter bait in a havaheart trap gets 'em every time. Dryer sheets keep them away.

Be careful what advice you follow, this is from the NH Fish and Game website:

Persons engaged in the practice of trapping nuisance animals are required to possess a Wildlife Control Operator’s License, available from Fish and Game headquarters in Concord.

That must be for someone that charges a fee to remove nuisance animals, not for a home owner. If this is required for the typical home owner then, well, that's ridiculous, and I'm a criminal.

Alright lets no jump to any conclusion about what is legal and what isn't about a homeowner trapping an animal. And get back to helping this person deal with the issue...

My advice is to call Fish and Game and talk with them. They may even be able to send someone out to look at the damage, and potential get an idea of what type of animal is causing the issue.

I also suggest that you try some things like mothballs or dryer sheets in the boat as a good first step in trying to keep the critters out of your boats....

You might try mothballs. some people use them for winter storadge

Guilty as well. When Havaharts are outlawed only outlaws will have Havaharts!

Call the government for a consultation before trapping a squirrel who is eating boats?

Can I trap the mice in my shed without a permit? :rolleye1:

watch out they are coming for you!

Forgot one other thing... Talk to as many nieghbors as you can... The more people on the lookout the more chance you have of catching the critter in action. As well, if people try things like mothballs, and dryer sheets, you may keeps this creature at bay, and from causing anymore damage along the waters edge.

or....
 

Or....try seat cushions

Most of the time fish and game doesn't come out for Bear sightings and you expect them to visit for chewed boat seats?

Hello Fish & Game I'd like to purchase a Chipper Dipper license.

In our new world we have rules for everything. It used to be you could do anything that wasn't specifically called out as illegal. Now it seems that you need a permit to do anything.

I just saw a news story that said sunscreen was a drug, what next?

Just new ways to make revenue that's all.

Trap and Release
 

Did you Know that most animals trapped and relocated die due to stress and trauma of the events?

Another problem that I have is that you are sending a pesky animal to be someone elses problem.

Trap and dunk, relocating the pest to animal heaven seems a reasonable and humane option to me.

Don't the Wings get in the way?:D

islandd
 

I think if you trap them and release them on rattlesnake there would be plenty for them to eat and less snakes around. :laugh:

Oh, Oh!
 

What I meant to do is to keep my knowledge to myself! :rolleye2:

:idea: A swim platform near an eagle's nest might be a better relocation option than Rattlesnake Island. If my dogs didn't kill the rodent, I'd have to trap it and bring it back to the mainland. :laugh:

Less RATTLEsnakes?????? :laugh::laugh:

It would be helpful if posted stayed on topic........

what about setting up one of those wildlife cameras that take a photo when something goes by..at least then you may get an idea of what is chewing up your boats..
i hope it's not a crazy guy like that guy in florida that ate some mans face...!

or
 

It could be George "The Animal" Steele of WWF fame

Nice to have some fun,, but those who have $8000+ damage are not laughing. We were looking for help instead.

A Couple Thoughts
 

If any of you go with the Havaheart trap, be sure to put something under it, like a plastic tote cover or the like. The temperatures on a covered boat will cause an animal to expire and getting the smell of that out of a boat won't be easy or cheap.

Sticky traps for rats with food in the middle might be worth a try. I would put a bunch together screwed to a piece of plywood or something. That way they will stay flat and stay put. You don't want to get that sticky goo on your boat!

Rat traps, baited with something tasty might be worth a try, again, I would screw them to a board.

Squirrel Control

Predator urines such as fox and wolf urine are an effective way to keep squirrels from returning, but squirrels are smart and will watch for these predators and will possibly come back.

Good luck. Keep us posted on what animal this turns out to be and what worked.