Homeowners with solar in Phoenix are learning an unexpected consequence of an eco-friendly home. In the blistering heat of Arizona’s desert, solar panels are a great way to cut down on energy costs, but they also create perfect havens for unwanted rodent renters. Sheds with spaces between the panels and roofing result in a dark, sheltered area that encourages rats to build nests and breed.
This secret problem has impacted thousands of Valley homeowners who put down money on solar, but their roofs are becoming rodent freeways. When homeowners begin to see the signs of this rising urban wildlife dilemma, professional pest control from Green Mango Pest Control is necessary to intervene.
Why Solar Panels Offer the Perfect Shelter for Rats
- Protected Environment from Desert Elements
Solar panel gaps are especially appealing to rats in Phoenix because of the city’s harsh climate. The panels below also protect against summer temperatures that can hit 120°F and help with occasional winter cold snaps. This micro-climate remains cooler than the local roof area.
- Elevated Safety from Ground Predators
Nesting several feet from the ground makes rats less suspicious and makes them feel safe. It also forms an above-ground stronghold for solar panel installations, protecting them from Phoenix-area coyotes, snakes, and other desert predators.
- Easier Access To Food And Water Sources
Its height allows rats easy access to rain gutters, bird feeders, and outside pet food. Phoenix’s monsoon season still provides water collection points, while the urban landscape offers plenty of food sources, all within a short traveling distance.
- Undisturbed Breeding Ground
Because few homeowners ever check under solar panels, they provide an ideal environment for reproduction. Arizona State University pest management studies have shown that rats breed briskly, with 84 offspring possible from a single pair in a year.
- Convenient Highway System
Give natural lines for light to move up and down the roof through the edges of solar panels. Rats travel across various properties via these high streets, spreading infestations across entire blocks without ever making contact with the ground.
Common Signs of Rodents Nesting Under Solar Panels
- Scratching and Scrambling noises
- Droppings along the edges of panels
- Gnaw marks on wiring
- Nesting material
- Dominant ammonia-like smells
- Decline in solar panel functionality
- Stains on rooftop areas
Preventive Measures to Protect Solar Investments from Rodents
Phoenix homeowners can take some simple, practical steps to prevent rodent infestations within their solar modules and associated equipment. Mesh palisades are installed around panels to avoid access and to allow for the right amount of air circulation. Rats can squeeze through tiny gaps, so use quarter-inch galvanized steel mesh.
In the desert environment, regular inspection schedules become critical. A monthly investigator visually examines the panels for damage or entryways, particularly after the monsoon storms that would loosen barricades. So, make sure to trim tree branches that reach within six feet of solar arrays; rats use these as highways to reach rooftops.
When Professional Pest Help Becomes Essential for Solar Panel Protection
In some cases, it may be an emergency that would prompt you to call a professional immediately to save your solar system and your home. But that damage may already be done, and if your energy production has dropped significantly, call someone to assess the potential impact of rats on your wiring.
When DIY preventative methods prove fruitless or infestations spread beyond the solar array area, then professional pest control is necessary. Some companies, like Green Mango Pest Control in Phoenix, specialize in solar panel rodent pest control to accommodate the valley’s unique desert rodent problems. They have a good understanding of local rat species behavior patterns and employ minimal tactics for exclusion that will not damage costly solar equipment.
