[TowerTalk] Nuts to the Squirrels

[Buck - N4PGW]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
> 
> Over the last couple of days, two of my wire antennas were found
> mysteriously laying on the ground. The 3/16 Cable Xperts polyester rope
> had  clearly been
> "chewed" through. The mystery might never have been solved if  it weren't
> for
> being at one of the tower sites when a gray ground squirrel came  bolting
> down the inside of the tower and ran into the woods with black fabric in
> its
> mouth. On another tower, I found a winch-load of the rope that had a
> significant
> amount of the black UV jacket chewed off.
> 
> There is plenty of rope coiled on tower bases around the property. What
> would motivate them to climb 40 to 60 feet in the air to chew on the rope?
> After
> 8 years of absolutely never having a piece of this rope fail, I am curious
> if
> anyone else has seen their rope being scavenged for nesting materials?
> 
> Tom Taormina, K5RC


Tom,

I use Mason's cord from Wal-Mart.  I haven't had that problem and I have
lots of squirrels.  I don't know why they like some and not others, but I am
at least grateful that they don't like my string.

Good luck
73
Buck