Unexpected costs – squirrels vs. the maintenance budget

We’ve been reviewing maintenance costs at our Aurora plant and found something that made everyone laugh at first and groan right after. Squirrel damage. Between chewing wires and nesting in warm spots near motors, they’ve actually added thousands of dollars to repairs this year. I’m curious how other shops or plants handle things like that. Do you budget for random “acts of nature,” or just deal with it as it comes up?

Hi Eugene, Bob AiDrivel here, with AI Incorporated; That’s a surprisingly common (and expensive) problem — and you’re definitely not alone in finding out the hard way that wildlife can cause real industrial damage. Many plants, especially those in semi-rural or wooded areas, end up battling squirrels, birds, raccoons, even feral cats nesting in equipment. Here’s how different facilities tend to handle it:

1. Preventive Maintenance / Facility Hardening Physical barriers: Install wire mesh or screening around motor housings, vents, and cable runs. Some plants go so far as to squirrel-proof cable trays and conduit openings. Rodent-resistant wiring: Where feasible, replace vulnerable cabling with rodent-resistant sheathing (often nylon- or fiberglass-reinforced). Regular inspections: Add “wildlife intrusion check” to PM rounds, especially during fall and winter when animals seek warmth.
2. Environmental / Deterrent Measures Ultrasonic deterrents or scent repellents are hit or miss, but some shops report success pairing them with visual deterrents (like spinning reflectors or predator shapes). Trapping and relocation (with pest control contracts) if local regulations allow. Landscape management: Trimming trees and vegetation that give squirrels access to roofs or overhead cable routes.
3. Budget & Accounting Most facilities don’t create a specific “wildlife” line item, but a few ways it’s commonly handled: Rolled into maintenance contingency funds (“unplanned equipment repair” or “miscellaneous damage”). Covered under insurance — some commercial policies include “animal damage” under property or equipment breakdown clauses (though small-scale wiring damage is often below deductibles). Tracked internally if recurring, to justify capital improvements (e.g., upgrading enclosures or cable protection).
4. What Other Plants Do Food processing plants and utilities tend to have formal wildlife exclusion programs (since contamination or outages are serious risks). Smaller manufacturing sites often just absorb it under routine maintenance until the cost becomes obvious — which sounds like the stage your Aurora site just hit.

Mr. Flick Johnson is my chief chipmunk control officer. He’s available for consults. We don’t have chipmunks, but if we did, I’m sure he could. He plays hell with the red-tailed voles and squirrels.

My SHERM certification classes taught me how to deal with them. You need to get out more Eugene.

crane operator said: My SHERM certification classes taught me how to deal with them. You need to get out more Eugene. View attachment 349900 View attachment 349901 Haha. I clearly need to become a whisperer Click to expand...

You are a good sport, Eugene. Great to have you hanging out with us on the HEF. Crane Operator; wish you could have seen me spit my coffee out and laugh. That’s hilarious. Caddy Shack. My goodness

Coaldust said: You are a good sport, Eugene. Great to have you hanging out with us on the HEF. Crane Operator; wish you could have seen me spit my coffee out and laugh. That’s hilarious. Caddy Shack. My goodness Click to expand... Thanks. Happy Weekend.

Lots of smart asses on this board huh lol

Well Eugene, today is your lucky day, we here at AiDrivel consulting held a consultation with Mr Flick Johnson, a local feline expert, and this is what he had to say in response to your question: "Ah yes, the eternal struggle between humans, machines, and small fluffy chaos agents. Personally, I find squirrels delightfully unhinged. They’re like me after too much catnip—only with worse decision-making around electricity. If it were my plant, I’d simply budget for snacks. Leave a few decoy nuts outside, maybe a heated box or two away from the motors. Call it “preventive squirrel enrichment.” Cheap, effective, and entertaining. But really, why blame the squirrels? Warm humming machines are basically five-star hotels for anyone with fur. You built the luxury resort; they just checked in."

Flick Johnson approves the above post.

I find it rather odd---had I posted any sarcasm the lot would have ran off.

Some people’s sarcasm meters are not properly calibrated.

Coaldust said: Some people’s sarcasm meters are not properly calibrated. Click to expand... I just checked it's calibration, seems to be operating fine, no codes in system.

A visit to menards goes a long way. Repellant bags are a good start. D-con is also helpful when ground up and stirred into some peanut butter. Squirrels, raccoons, rats and mice are very destructive. Mice are the worst. They get in the tiniest of places.

funwithfuel said: Mice are the worst. Click to expand... Farmers around here used some stuff sewn in small bags, they say it works well.

Wife has been collecting toilet paper tubes, with plans of filling them with peppermint soaked cotton balls. I just buy the bags of poison pellets and pierce the bag and put them everywhere. Need a new cat, our current 2 are too old to be mousers. Dog does a better job at mousing than they do.