[13] Tips To Get Rid Of Squirrels Under My Solar Panels

Although many people enjoy squirrels, there are several situations where these brave rodents can turn into an annoyance. One such problem is when they build their nests underneath solar panels. Squirrels are known to gnaw into wiring, which is terrible news for the efficiency and power produced by solar panels, so how do I get rid of squirrels under my solar panels?

If there is evidence of squirrels in the solar panels, there are several options for getting rid of them. Read the article below to learn how to keep squirrels away from solar panels.

How To Get Rid Of Squirrels Under Solar Panels

Removing Attractors

Solar panels are like squirrel magnets because they offer food, a place to play, and a squirrel highway that is out of the way of canine predators. Removing the solar panels to eliminate the squirrels is impossible, but other adjacent objects might lure them in. 

Remove or relocate bird feeders as far away from the solar panels. Squirrels are attracted to bird food because they enjoy berries, seeds, and nuts. The same is true for outdoor pet food bowls, which can draw different kinds of unwelcome wildlife.

Use A Squirrel-Proof Feeder

This is presumably the best method for preventing squirrels from accessing feeders near solar panels. The best squirrel-proof feeders frequently have weight-sensitive lids that close if a squirrel tries to perch on them, preventing the squirrel from accessing the food. 

Other options for squirrel-proof birdfeeders include cage-enclosed feeders. Smaller creatures, such as birds, can pass through them, but not larger ones. Squirrels can and will squirm inside anything, so metal cages aren’t as effective as weight-sensitive ones.

Barriers

Suppose solar panels are grouped with others, creating a large canopy where squirrels may travel great distances without ever reaching the ground. In that case, efforts to eliminate squirrels from solar panels may appear relatively pointless.

Barrier techniques will be more effective if the solar panels are sufficiently spread apart because the squirrels will have few options for obtaining shelter under solar panels.

In either scenario, it will be challenging for the animals to climb the solar panels from the ground if a large piece of smooth sheet metal or long strips of metal flashing is wrapped around them.

Live Traps

Live traps provide a non-lethal option for removing squirrels from solar panels. Squirrels caught in live capture traps are kept safe during the capture process.

The squirrels can continue their everyday lives elsewhere if the web is moved to a more squirrel-friendly spot, like a woodland region far from the solar panels. Then the animal is released.

Crunchy peanut butter or peanut butter combined with oats and honey are both attractive bait for a live squirrel trap. Place the web close to the solar panels but away from youngsters’ and pets’ reach for pet and human safety.

Snap Traps

Snap traps may seem like an old-fashioned method to catch squirrels under solar panels, but they still work quite well. The squirrel dies when a metal bar falls on it.

Because each trap only kills one squirrel, several traps must be placed to reduce rat numbers dramatically. There are several benefits to using snap traps:

• They are thrown away.
• They can be used both inside and outside and are reusable if preferred. They are not poisonous.
• Since you can see the dead rat, you can confirm the kill.

Glue Traps

The most extensive giant glue board available to get rid of squirrels is the Catchmaster Maxcatch Giant Glue Board, which measures 18.5″ by 10.5″.

The 1/2 lb of peanut butter-scented glue on each Maxcatch Giant Glue Board makes it simple to catch squirrels from solar panels.

For use in dusty environments, these planks can either rest flat or are rolled up into a tunnel resembling a tent.

The Maxcatch Giant Glue Board is perfect for cleaning up rat infestations in regions that have been badly infected because it can hold multiple squirrels at once.

All Nearby Tree Branches Should Be Pruned

Due to several factors, including the potential for thunder and lightning, experts advise against placing trees close to home. Additionally, avoid placing trees too close to solar panels because they will shadow them.

Another reason why there shouldn’t be trees close to the house is squirrels. Make sure to clip any branches growing too close to the roof on adjacent trees.

If not, the squirrels will use the trees as a shortcut to the rooftop so they can construct a drey below the solar panel. Make sure you trim every tree in the vicinity of the house, not just the ones close to the system.

Electronic Repellents

Add electronic repellents, which scare away approaching squirrels with unexpected blasts of water, to taste deterrents as a reinforcement.

These repellents are multipurpose, eco-friendly, and can essentially protect any region surrounding your property.

For instance, place a hose-free repellent on a flat rooftop to deter squirrels, or covertly place an electronic repellent inside a berry patch to stop them from stealing the fruit.

Create a barrier around the house that keeps squirrels away using various tools. Electronic devices require sight to operate. The use of electrical treatments alone may not be the best option for eradicating chipmunks permanently.

Deterrents

Although transitory, smell and taste deterrents are not as efficient as preventive barriers in keeping squirrels away.

Squirrels are discouraged from gnawing on treated areas by the spicy pepper-derived compound capsaicin, which is sprayed around young solar panels or seedlings.

Hanged from mesh bags in the solar panels, moth balls may partially deter squirrels but are more effective in enclosed spaces where the aroma would be more significant.

Mothballs create an odor that is unpleasant to squirrels. Sprays that mimic the smell of predator urine are also somewhat effective, but they must be applied frequently and do not reach high portions of the solar panels like other deterrents.

Solar panels Guards

A squirrel guard is a word used to describe impenetrable guards mounted to both sides of a panel to prevent rodents and birds from penetrating the panel’s interior. These guards are often made of wire mesh.

Squirrel guards are typically built of materials impervious to the chewing and scratching squirrels, making them slightly more durable than bird guards.

Squirrels won’t be able to access the area after the guards are in place, and you won’t have to worry about the rodents being able to chew through the material.

Natural Predators

Spread dog, cat, or human hair about the garden to drive squirrels away from the solar panels. These forms of hair belong to creatures that squirrels view as threats, so they smell harmful to them. So that the hair doesn’t blow away, cover it with a bit of earth. 

One reader adds that he had had a problem with squirrels in solar panels and that a dog was a fantastic squirrel catcher.

According to this reader, human hair also works well. He planted human hairs with a light digging to keep squirrels away, as they couldn’t bear the smell of people.

Monitor Solar System

Systems from Green Mountain Solar include monitoring. This can send error warnings and inform you how much power you’re creating.

Be aware that a message’s cause isn’t always squirreled damage (for instance, you may get an error if snow is covering or partially covering your array – this is fine and will clear up when the snow does).

Our team is always there to assist you if you ever see an error message that worries you.

Keep Your Property Spotless

Since they are vegetarians, squirrels enjoy eating nuts, oranges, cucumbers, mushrooms, corn, broccoli, and other fruits. To keep squirrels away, dispose of food in closed bins and keep your property tidy.

Why Do Squirrels Build Their Nests Below Solar Panels?

Squirrels are drawn to panels for two presumably different reasons: shelter and chances to nibble. Since these rodents spend most of their lives climbing and navigating high-up terrain and structures, a roof is easily accessible. 

The underside of a panel will act as a form of shelter, protecting the rats from the rain and providing a barrier to prevent chilly breezes from entering their nest. The rodents can also find protection from potential predators in this location.

A squirrel also has a strange innate attraction to wires and threads, which is not well understood. A squirrel may chew and munch on wires, one of its characteristic behaviors common to nearly all rodents.

Cables may mimic natural objects that squirrels like to chew on or perhaps eat, such as twigs, leaves, or even worms. There is no assurance that a solar panel manufacturer will include squirrel damage in the warranty.

What Threats Do Nesting Squirrels Under Solar Panels Pose?

Squirrels chew and gnaw a lot, which results in significant damage to any structures they choose to make their nests in.

Squirrels can start fires and floods if they get into roof gaps because they gnaw through electrical lines, including the wiring found beneath solar panels, where they’ll probably decide to build their nest.

In addition to the damage they can do to solar panels, they also remove insulating material from an area to use as a drey, which is a double annoyance.

The plants, dry twigs, and straw used to construct a drey can quickly catch fire from the sun’s intense and unyielding rays, and a drey is much greater than what is observed with nuisance bird nests.

The persistent chewing on the wires may result in a malfunction that emits sparks, which may ignite the drey and perhaps continue to burn down your house.

Conclusion

Your solar system is significantly at risk from squirrels. They primarily eat up your cable and other soft components, among other things. Broken cables won’t function, and exposed wires can short circuit, resulting in electrical harm like fire and electrocution. Use the techniques listed above to keep squirrels away from solar panels.

Trapping is the only way to control squirrels. In the impacted region, several baited traps will be set. After treatment, suggestions will be made to stop further squirrels from settling in the empty territory.

In addition to these more involved techniques, squirrel prevention is a highly effective strategy to keep squirrels off your property.