Squirrels living on roof under solar panels :(

blizeH

Hi, we have squirrels living on our roof (I think under the solar panels) and are worried they will chew through the cables 😞

They climb the drain pipes on both sides of the house, and I'm also worried that if we block access via the drain pipes they will climb up next door and jump over - any suggestions on how to keep them off please? I've seen some of the 'pest' away things which makes a high pitched sound - was tempted to pay someone to put a couple on the roof?

missile

Fit wire mesh around the panels to prevent access?

Strider590

Remove panels, fit mini wind turbines instead , but that may just spread the problem around a bit, sharing is caring etc.

At the end of the day, for as much as people say "ooooh look at the cute squirrels!!" the common grey squirrel is considered vermin, they eat baby bird eggs and they cause A LOT of damage in urban environments, not to mention road accidents, where people emergency stop or swerve on fast/busy roads to save a squirrel.

I would go with the mesh solution above, but also make sure there are no entrances into your loft space, I can't imagine they're just sleeping under the solar panels.

docmatt

I don't think they will be under the solar panels, more under the roof in the eaves area. Get a roofer to put some poison down or set some traps. They are not overly keen on wire, more wooden stuff like roof joists. If they die in your roof the smell doesn't last long and they turn into like a leather mummy. We see them all the time.

Gloomendoom

I had one in my roof. It chewed through one of the lighting circuit cables and electrocuted itself.

Strider590

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I had one in my roof. It chewed through one of the lighting circuit cables and electrocuted itself.

In the UK that is one very unlucky squirrel :rotfl:

another_casualty

I had squirrels coming through a little gap in the eaves and into the loft . They were going through the cavity wall .
I got the hole blocked asap. Then put ammonia in the loft . Leaving the. Light on in the loft for long periods also . Banging on the ceiling at various times . They never returned and no white coat was needed.

Basically , squirrels hate noise and bright places. Trying to find where they are actually going as mentioned above is the key . Just be careful
They are vicious and territorial .I heard of a man in a ladder attacked by squirrels when going into his loft . According to my sister.

I've said enough now . Don't want this thread to turn into a horror movie :rotfl: