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camping6 MIN

Furry Thieves Battle a Cybertruck—and Leave the Scene Hungry

A Cybertruck owner reported that raccoons tried to break into the truck’s enclosed cargo bed while camping in Minnesota. The animals apparently failed to get inside, but appeared to damage the tonneau-cover trim—highlighting why campers should secure food and trash rather than rely on a vehicle cover as wildlife protection.

By CarCody Team

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A Cybertruck owner reported that raccoons tried to break into the truck’s enclosed cargo bed while camping overnight in Minnesota. The animals apparently failed to reach the cargo, but photographs appeared to show muddy paw prints and damage to sections of the tonneau-cover trim.

It is a funny image—a vehicle marketed by Tesla as a six-foot “vault” facing off against determined scavengers—but the practical lesson is less about Cybertruck engineering than about campsite food storage.

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What happened in Minnesota?

In a post shared on the Cybertruck Owners Club in July 2024, a user named Spidog wrote: “Raccoons tried to enter vault overnight while camping in Minnesota!” The accompanying photographs appeared to show muddy animal paw prints around the enclosed cargo-bed cover, along with torn or gnawed sections of the tonneau-cover trim.

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Reports based on the post said the animals did not successfully enter the cargo area and that nothing appeared to be missing. That is the narrowest reliable conclusion available from the incident: a Cybertruck owner reported apparent animal damage around the tonneau cover, but the animals apparently did not get into the bed.

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The post was a user-generated account, not an independently documented wildlife investigation. The photographs cannot establish exactly how many animals were involved, whether every visible mark came from raccoons, or what specifically attracted them. It is more accurate to say the images appeared to show raccoon activity than to present the story as a formally verified durability test.

The “vault” did not prove to be wildlife-proof

Tesla describes the Cybertruck’s lockable, motorized tonneau cover as converting the six-foot bed into a “vault.” That description refers to cargo security and concealment—not a guarantee that the bed can withstand an animal trying to claw or bite its way inside.

Tesla’s North American owner’s manual also puts important limits on the cover’s protection. Depending on the vehicle’s configuration, market, and manufacture date, the tonneau cover may be optional. The manual says it protects cargo from most rain and snow, but it does not make the cargo bed waterproof.

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The manual warns owners to keep dirt, sand, objects, and other debris out of the cover tracks because interference can damage the mechanism. It also explains that the cover can be operated with exterior switches, the touchscreen, or the Tesla mobile app. When Walk-Away Door Lock is enabled, the cover locks as well.

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That still does not mean the cover is raccoon-proof. A locking cover can deter opportunistic human access while remaining vulnerable to an animal that can smell food and attack exposed trim. The Minnesota photographs do not demonstrate a general Cybertruck defect, a known failure rate, or a weakness shared by every vehicle.

Why would raccoons attack a truck?

The most plausible explanation is food—not the Cybertruck’s angular styling. Follow-up commentary treated the event as a failed attempt to reach food, but the owner’s caption, as reported, did not establish what the animals smelled or whether food was actually inside the bed.

Raccoons are adaptable, intelligent, nocturnal foragers. A vehicle cargo area can become interesting if it contains food, wrappers, cooking residue, pet food, garbage, or another strong scent. An animal does not need to understand the vehicle; it only needs to detect a possible meal and find a surface it can manipulate.

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Jokes comparing the Cybertruck to a dumpster are understandable, but they are not evidence that the vehicle’s shape caused the incident. The defensible inference is simply that an accessible or detectable food odor may have attracted opportunistic wildlife.

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What campers should do instead

Wildlife agencies including USDA APHIS and North Carolina Wildlife advise removing food sources rather than relying on a vehicle, campsite, or animal repellent to solve the problem. The same basic precautions apply whether the vehicle is a Cybertruck, a conventional pickup, an SUV, or a tent beside a picnic table.

  1. Remove food and scraps overnight. Do not leave meals, wrappers, crumbs, cooking waste, or dirty food containers in an accessible cargo area.
  2. Secure pet food and water. USDA guidance recommends keeping pet food and water indoors at night. The smell can attract wildlife even when the food seems out of reach.
  3. Use durable containers with tight-fitting lids. A wildlife-resistant camping food container can reduce access and odor exposure, but it should not be described as automatically or permanently raccoon-proof without product-specific testing.
  4. Secure campsite waste. A raccoon-proof trash-can lock or secure outdoor trash-can lid can help prevent animals from opening waste containers. The goal is to remove the food reward, not to challenge an animal to defeat a particular latch.
  5. Close the tonneau cover completely. Check the cover rather than assuming that locking the doors means the cargo-bed cover is closed. Tesla’s manual specifically says owners should verify that the cover is actually closed before walking away.
  6. Keep the tracks clean. Inspect the tonneau-cover tracks for dirt, sand, and other debris. Track interference can damage the mechanism independently of any animal encounter.

These products are prevention aids, not guarantees. Official guidance reviewed for this incident emphasizes removing food sources and securing trash; it does not establish that a particular repellent, aftermarket cover, lock, or container will stop raccoons from approaching a vehicle.

What the story does not tell us

There is no verified repair invoice, Tesla service estimate, confirmed part number, or official warranty decision associated with the reported damage in the available coverage. Claims about a specific repair cost or lengthy service delay would therefore go beyond the evidence.

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The incident also cannot show that Cybertrucks are broadly vulnerable to wildlife. It was one owner’s overnight camping anecdote, supported by photographs, rather than a controlled test involving multiple vehicles, covers, animals, or conditions.

Nor can it establish that the cover itself failed in its intended function. Based on the reports, the animals apparently did not reach the cargo. The visible damage appears to have been limited to exterior trim or related cover material, but the exact component and extent of damage were not independently confirmed.

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The real takeaway

The Cybertruck’s “vault” may help protect cargo from weather and casual access, but it should not be treated as a wildlife locker. Raccoons are persistent foragers, and a locked cover is not a substitute for removing the smell and the reward that brought them to the vehicle.

For campers, the best defense is straightforward: secure food, pet supplies, wrappers, scraps, and trash before going to sleep. Then close the tonneau cover, confirm its position, and check the tracks for debris. If the animals still leave muddy footprints, at least they should have less reason to start chewing on the truck.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Did raccoons actually get inside the Cybertruck?

Based on reports of the owner’s post, the animals apparently did not enter the cargo area and nothing appeared to be missing. The photographs appeared to show paw prints and damage around the tonneau-cover trim.

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Does the Cybertruck tonneau cover make the bed waterproof?

No. Tesla’s owner’s manual says the cover protects cargo from most rain and snow but does not make the cargo bed waterproof.

Does this incident prove the Cybertruck is poorly engineered?

No. It was a single user-reported camping incident, not a controlled durability test or evidence of a general failure rate. It does show that a determined animal may damage exposed trim while trying to reach a scent.

What is the best way to stop raccoons from investigating a campsite vehicle?

Remove or secure food, food scraps, pet food, wrappers, and scented waste. Wildlife agencies recommend durable containers with tight-fitting lids and keeping pet food and water indoors at night. Do not rely on a vehicle cover or a repellent as a guaranteed wildlife barrier.

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The Bottom Line

The reported Minnesota incident is an amusing Cybertruck-versus-raccoon anecdote, not proof of a widespread vehicle defect. The useful lesson is simple: secure food and trash first, verify that the tonneau cover is closed, and keep its tracks free of debris. A cargo-bed cover can be lockable without being raccoon-proof.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

campingCybertruckraccoonsTesla Cybertruckvehicle protectionwildlife safety

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