Do critters chew on safety rope and straps

[beyondmyken]

For those of you that leave your safety ropes in the tree or use ladder stands with webstraps, etc,   have your ever had squirrels or other critters chew on them?   I had this happen once on a nylon strap and it has made me leery of leaving equipment in the tree for more than a day or two.

[Jim Boettcher]

Yeah, squirrels chewed up my rachet strap on my stand. I take em down now when season ends.

[joe ashton]

I've never seen evidence of it but I always check my straps before getting into my stands.  I also use chain-ons as my first choice of stands.  Joe

[snag]

If they chew on wiring harnesses in trucks, as has happened to me, they will chew on anything! Little varmits.   :mad:

[Smithhammer]

Heck yeah. They'll chew on anything, particularly if it has salt from your sweat on it. That's why I never leave a bow outside unattended.

I know I do......

[YORNOC]

Yes, all the time. I keep 2 wratchet straps with me at all times in case I climb to a damaged strap on my stand.   Always throw straps out after the season around here. ALWAYS chewed to some degree.

[Shawn Leonard]

I know they do but in my case I never had them do it. Foam seats but my rachet straps for stands, NO. I check them every year and replace the ones needed every year. Me and my bud maintain 58 stand sites and probably 50 have rachet straps holding stands or brackets we never have any chewed. Shawn

[tippit]

They seem to like my bow hawl up line.  My 11mm safety line seems to be too large in diameter for them...at least so far!

[sweeney3]

They certainly can.  Doesn't mean they will, but squirrels are like as not to chew on anything in the woods.  I've had a couple ropes and seats chewed up.  It's worth the few seconds to check them good before you put your life and health on them.

[mwosborn]

They sure do - squirrels will chew em up.

[Big Ed]

They will but not always.Be sure to check before using!!

[Emmons]

I have had them chew rubber on bow holder, PVC that cover my climbers steel cable, and chew on the powder coating.

[BAK]

Absolutely they do.  The weak link in the system.  Check them frequently.

[VTer]

I know they do, but they've never chewed my straps. They have chewed the cloth seats on my Loc-on stands and the strap that holds one of my trail cameras.

[gregk]

They have chewed my treestands seats but i've never had them chew any ratchet straps or anything else. I am sure they will now that I have said this.

YES!

Bisch

[doug77]

I've never had them bother my straps but the sure do tear up the seats. I put new ratchet straps on every fall.

doug77

[LookMomNoSights]

Heck yeah they do!  Its a gamble out my way.  Ive left stands for a little bit with no damage and other times the tree rats really hammer on em'.  Red squirrels are the worst!  
I guess If I were one, I wouldn't want an ugly hunk of scrap metal in my living room either.   But yeah,  dont take the chance! They have an appetite for seat foam.

[wildgame]

ive had them to chew the finish off two of my ladder stands!!