Squirrels, pigeons and critter guards for Illinois solar

The space between the panels and the roof is dry, shaded and hard for predators to reach. EnergySage notes that pigeons often nest under and around panels, and that squirrels sometimes nest there and chew through exposed or hanging wires.

It isn't common. Solar United Neighbors quotes one installer saying fewer than 1% of its customers had the problem. The risk is higher on homes with mature trees close to the roof, which describes many older North Shore and west suburban lots.

• Chewed wiring. If a squirrel chews the wrong wire, EnergySage says it can cut power from the panels and lead to expensive repairs.
• Fire risk. Dry leaves and twigs that build up under panels sit next to the electrical wiring, which EnergySage calls a fire hazard.
• Dirty panels. Pigeon nests leave dirt and droppings that can lower panel output.

Solar United Neighbors warns that the animals are often hard to spot, so by the time production drops, the damage may already be done. Check your monitoring app now and then, and look for nesting material or droppings around the roof edge. See why solar can produce less than expected.

EnergySage describes critter guards as strips of metal screening, like high-quality chicken wire, fastened along the sides of the array. They block animals and keep leaves from collecting under the panels. Most attach to the panel frames with clips rather than screws into the roof.

SolarReviews puts a custom installation at about $500 to $2,000, depending on the size of the array and the roof. Adding guards later adds a service call, so if your roof has trees nearby, ask for them in your original quote. See how to read a solar quote line by line.

Ask your installer to also keep wiring snug against the racking. Solar United Neighbors recommends fastening wires tightly to the modules and rails and running them into conduit at the junction box, so there are no loose loops to chew.

Often not. Solar United Neighbors notes that many solar warranties don't cover damage due to negligence or from nature. Read the exclusions in your panel and inverter warranties.

Rooftop panels are usually insured as part of the house, but Kin notes that damage from vermin, birds or insects is often excluded. Wording varies, so check your policy. See solar and homeowners insurance in Illinois.

Not without permission. Cook County notes that squirrels are protected by law in Illinois, and that trapping one requires a removal permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The IDNR issues a nuisance animal removal permit only for substantial property damage or a serious health or safety concern, not for nuisances like squirrels raiding bird feeders. Most homeowners hire a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator instead.

Feral pigeons are different. University of Illinois Extension notes that house sparrows, European tree sparrows, European starlings and feral rock pigeons are the only birds in Illinois that aren't protected. The Illinois Department of Public Health adds that local ordinances may still protect them, so check with your village first.

Don't go on the roof or reach under the panels yourself. Panels make electricity whenever light hits them, so leave the wiring to your installer.