What is this on power poles?

[dodge man]

Another what is this thread? It looks like a strip of heavy roofing paper but maybe feels more plastic or rubber. It’s wrapped around the power poles in my area about 5 to 6 feet off the ground.

 

[hosspuller]

Keep critters from climbing up and contacting the conductors.

 

[m1garand762]

I have been wondering why in my area a bunch of poles have plastic stretch wrap, wrapped about 6 feet up

 

[hosspuller]

Here's the actual product ...

18" and 22" Animal Guard (Pole Wrap)

 

[scootr]

Product description > Animal Guard is a unique plastic wrap for use on utility poles to discourage the ascent of climbing animals such as squirrels, raccoons, cats, etc. It is UV-stabilized to withstand many years of prolonged sun exposure. Can be placed at any strategic location on the pole to impede accessibility to animals.

 

[dodge man]

Mystery solved. The only thing I could think of was to keep the ground wire in place, I’ve seen them loose and flopping around, but I didn’t like that answer.

 

[bigtiller]

Our newer pols are getting a 2'~ strip of what looks like galvanized sheet metal. They are about 15' above the ground.

Animal guard, that's a good idea.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Keeps critters from climbing up.

 

[Oaktree]

Product description > Animal Guard is a unique plastic wrap for use on utility poles to discourage the ascent of climbing animals such as squirrels, raccoons, cats, etc. It is UV-stabilized to withstand many years of prolonged sun exposure. Can be placed at any strategic location on the pole to impede accessibility to animals.

Didn't realize there was such a problem with critters climbing utility poles. I wonder how it would work to keep squirrels out of bird feeders.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

They also found that if they left some scraps of the wire and insulation they like to chew on, at the bottom of the pole or nearby, they took the easy route and went for the bird, er the wire in the hand.

 

[bcp]

Didn't realize there was such a problem with critters climbing utility poles. I wonder how it would work to keep squirrels out of bird feeders.

I have bird feeders on 10 foot high 4 inch PVC drain pipe poles. Squirrels and raccoons can't get a grip and it is too large to "hug" and climb.

Bruce

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I have wrapped miles of wood hi-line poles from below the bottom phase all the way to the bud due to wood peckers, also as a side note when you change out a pole with a big woodpecker hole that has been hollowed out into a nest, if you will cut that section of pole out and either bolt or band it to the new pole they will usually not mess with the new pole but will stay in the old pole piece that was their home to start with.

 

[dstig1]

Keep critters from climbing up and contacting the conductors.

Oh that's what they WANT you to think! I'm not fooled, no sir! You see that black color? That is used as a signal to the black helicopters as to where to go and who to shoot first when the globalists take over and come for our precious bodily fluids!

 

[Cycledude]

Around my area they put that stuff on some power poles to prevent damage from bears , they say because of tiny vibration bears think there are bugs in the poles and chew on them even though there are no bugs. Most poles have nothing extra applied .

 

[oosik]

Hmmm - I've not seen anything like that around here. Maybe all the climbing critters around here are just to lazy.

 

[bunyip]

They use themhere too, possums put on quite a light show when they step between insulators, the only problem is they jump from branches onto the wire and run along it to the pole, amazing how an animal that size can balance and run on a wire.

 

[Spike56]

Didn't realize there was such a problem with critters climbing utility poles. I wonder how it would work to keep squirrels out of bird feeders.

Oh my YES ! I know several linemen here. They have corrected outages from squirrels / racoons, even a snake climbing up and shorting out / chewing wires.

 

[ponytug]

At one time sightseeing nearby, we happened to walk by a power pole just as two seagulls were squawking at each other as they sat on the wires. "Mine, mine, mine!" One thing lead to another and one of them flapped its wings at the other. BANG! Feathers drifting everywhere and two loud thunks as the seagulls hit the pavement next to us. It was electrifying...

Most poles have those guards in the city around here, but not so much in the country, leading me to think the main target is rats.

All the best,

Peter

 

[coobie]

They are usually installed only at transformer locations.Not all power companies use them.

 

[Torvy]

I'm with @bunyip . I usually see critters climb trees and then move across power lines like a catwalk. Rarely see them climb the power poles...unless they are in a treeless prairie.