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nunya
LXI 483
MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
·Charter

nunya to SirMeowmix_I

MVM

to SirMeowmix_I

Re: Armored cable, RG-6 and phone, squirrels!

There is no practical product on the market to protect telephone and CATV lines from squirrels. Squirrels will chew through plastic, lead, steel, and aluminum. I've seen squirrels chew through "squirrel proof" cable which was a plastic sheath, steel turnplate, plastic sheath, steel turnplate, mylar, aluminum turnplate, mylar, then cable bundles. Right - through - it!. Less than 1 year after being placed.

Coax doesn't stand a chance. Hardline is either a mild alloy or aluminum. Sometimes it has a plastic sheath.

Both phone and cable drops are more susceptible than the cables.

For abatement, extermination is the most effective. Be humane. Use pointed pellets, not BB's. A .22 rifle is perfect, if neighbors aren't an issue. Don't shoot the cables.

Limiting food supply helps. You can clean up under fruit / nut trees. No bird feeders. Keeps lids on trash tight. Don;t leave pet food out.

Eliminate the desire or ease of using the cables as a "highway". Trim back foliage in your easement surrounding the poles and anywhere near your house. The only reason they run down the wires is they find it an easy way to get somewhere. See where they're going and eliminate the desire to be there or ease of access.

You could have the service buried, although it may only help a little. It still has to run up the pole to the terminal / tap. They chew on it there too.

If you do invent something feasible to stop them, you'll be very, very, very rich. Every electric, phone, and cable company will be calling.

ghnv56
@mc.videotron.ca

1 recommendation

ghnv56

Anon

They don't like dielectric grease get dielectric grease and a brush and put it all over the place. Not only they won't chew it but they will also have problems walking on the wire. The grease will stay there forever since it is waterproof. The only downside will be the techs yelling when they do work on the lines haha!
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88 to nunya

Member

to nunya
said by nunya:

If you do invent something feasible to stop them, you'll be very, very, very rich. Every electric, phone, and cable company will be calling.
Put rat poison under the sheath. Squirrels are just rats with furry tails. They chew the wire, gets into their mount, dead squirrel 48 hours later. But the PETA folks will start saying rats squirrels are a protected species.