Critter guard — squirrels and raccoons chew solar wires.

Squirrels and the occasional raccoon find rooftop solar very interesting. They climb into the panel-roof gap, chew through DC wires, and short the entire array. Critter guard mesh is the same physical-barrier solution as bird-proofing, sized for slightly larger animals. $380–$960 typical. Often paired with bird-proofing as a combined install.

TYPICAL COST

$380 – $960

DURATION

2 – 4 hours

Why this matters

Solar systems run high-voltage DC between panels. A chewed wire can short to ground, frying the panel and sometimes the inverter. Repair cost ranges from $400 (single panel re-wire) to $4,000+ (inverter replacement). One critter event pays back the critter guard install several times over.

What gets installed

Galvanized 1/2" hex mesh, UV-stable, around the panel array perimeter
Stainless steel clips at panel rails (no holes drilled)
Existing wire inspection — any damaged wire repaired before mesh install
Optional: under-panel additional mesh for high-pressure neighborhoods (Wildhorse in Davis is the classic example)

Pricing

10–14 panels — $380
15–22 panels — $560
23–32 panels — $740
33+ panels — $960+
Bundled with bird-proofing — save $140–$240 (shared install labor)

Most network specialists handle bird-proofing and critter guard interchangeably; if you're booking one and your neighborhood has both pigeons and squirrels, bundle.