Animals, Livestock, and Critters Around a Ground-Mounted Solar Array
Last verified: September 2026
A ground array sits right where the animals live. Here's how to keep rodents from nesting and chewing the wiring, birds from roosting underneath, and livestock from rubbing the frame — with simple guards and good habits. Questions? Call (330) 200-8042.
Animals Around a Ground Array, at a Glance
A ground array sits right down where the animals live, so it gets company from day one. The single biggest concern is rodents nesting under the panels and chewing the wiring — a chewed wire can knock out part of your array and is a genuine hazard. The workhorse fix is a critter guard, a band of sturdy mesh clipped around the lower edge of the panels that seals the space so nothing can nest there; the same barrier keeps birds from roosting underneath. Watch for wasp nests before you reach under the array in warm weather. Out in the country, livestock will rub on the frames and posts — fence them off or lift the panels on a pole mount. Keep the base clear and the feed and woodpiles away, and the whole spot grows far less inviting. Anything to do with the wiring is a licensed pro's job, always. There's a printable 29-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 Will animals really damage my solar panels?
The panels themselves are tough — the real risk is critters getting underneath to nest and chew the wiring. A chewed wire can knock out part of the array and is a hazard, which is why sealing off that space is the heart of critter-proofing.
2 What is a critter guard?
It's a band of sturdy mesh clipped around the lower edge of the panels, sealing the gap so rodents and birds can't get underneath to nest. It's inexpensive, unobtrusive, and the single best protection your wiring can have. Ask for it at install time.
3 How do I keep birds from nesting under the panels?
The same idea as rodents — close off the gap. Bird skirts or mesh around the panel edges keep birds from roosting underneath while still letting air move. One good perimeter guard often handles birds and rodents together.
4 Can I keep livestock near my ground array?
Yes, with planning. Cattle and horses will treat a frame as a scratching post, so either fence the animals away or use a pole mount that lifts the panels out of reach. Plan it up front — retrofitting protection later is harder.
5 I found chewed wiring under my array — what now?
Leave it alone and call a licensed professional. Keep people and pets clear in the meantime. Damaged solar wiring can still be live and dangerous, so it's never something to touch, tape, or test yourself.
6 Do barn cats help?
They do, quietly. A cat or two patrolling the property keeps the rodent population down naturally, which takes the pressure right off your wiring. A low rodent count is the best protection there is.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
Worried about chipmunks, birds, or livestock around your array? I'll help you figure out the guards, fencing, or pole mount that fit your place — with nothing to sell you. $99 flat for a visit, 30-day come-back-free.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).