Birds, Squirrels, and Solar Panels; Why Wildlife Love Your Solar Panels

A Hidden Problem You Might Have on Your Roof

Solar panels are a great investment for your home’s energy efficiency and sustainability. However, there’s one problem with them that the homeowners we talk to rarely expect: how much wildlife might love them too. If you’ve ever noticed animals scurrying around your panels, seen nesting material underneath them, or even heard noises from inside your home, you’re not going nuts (the squirrels are). 

At first glance, it might seem harmless to leave your panels alone and let wildlife interact with them. It’s just a few birds looking for shade or a squirrel stashing food right? Not always. Beneath your panels, these critters could be causing serious issues for later.

Why Animals Love Solar Panels

From a high-level (like a bird’s-eye view 😉), your solar panels look like the perfect shelter. Animals are drawn to them for a few main reasons: 

• Warmth & shelter: The space beneath your panels provides protection against the elements and even predators. On the hot summer days, your panels provide a source of shade and on the cooler days, they still provide a source of radiating warmth. 
• Safe hiding spots: Squirrels and other small critters may love enclosed, shaded areas to hide from predators like hawks and your neighbor’s cat. 
• Ideal nesting space: Wildlife like birds, squirrels, and possibly even racoons use the protected gap beneath the panels to store food and build nests.

The Damage Wildlife Can Cause

While these critters may seem harmless, wildlife activity under your solar panels could lead to some costly issues such as: 

• Damaged wiring: Squirrels and other critters that are notorious for gnawing on electrical wires can cause shorts and outages, or even fires. If you have any exposed wires under your panels they could be at risk. This is why we conduct thorough inspections at our solar cleaning appointments to catch problems early. 
• Blocked airflow: Nesting materials and debris could trap heat and reduce your systems’ ability to cool effectively 
• Roof damage: Trapped moisture from built up debris can corrode racking systems or deteriorate roof shingles over time.

Ignoring these issues can mean reduced performance or some seriously expensive repairs.

How to Prevent Wildlife Intrusion

The good news is that these problems are really easy to prevent, and your team at Solar Clean Pros is here to help. We recommend these proactive steps to prevent costly effects of wildlife intrusion: 



1. Schedule routine cleanings & inspections: Regular maintenance keeps panels clean and clear of debris. Because we conduct thorough inspections of your system during our solar panel cleaning appointments, we can identify signs of wildlife activity and other problem areas. 
2. Install solar critter guards: These durable protective barriers block access underneath your panels while maintaining proper airflow. They’ll keep the area under your panels neat and free of critters and debris. 
3. Remove nests: Always leave nest removal to the professionals to ensure it’s done humanely and safely. Beyond that, climbing to your roof can be dangerous without the proper equipment and procedures. Please feel free to inquire with us regarding nest removal from your solar system. 
4. Prepare for seasonal activity: Fall and Spring area peak nesting seasons for lots of species, which makes these times optimal for inspection and cleaning visits.

Why Critter Guards are Worth It 

As you’ve read, critters have a serious impact on your panels - an area many homeowners may not be thinking about. Fortunately, critter guards are one of the most effective long-term solutions for protecting your solar investment. Solar Clean Pros proudly installs critter guards throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia!