Can Animals Chew Through Shrub Net?

Chewed netted lighting is a safety issue.

Animals can indeed chew through shrub netting, and the animals more likely to cause such damage are those that feed by gnawing. In most cases, the animals responsible for chewing damage are rodents. Rodents get their name from a Latin root word meaning "to gnaw." Their incisors grow continuously, leading them to demonstrate frequent gnawing behaviors. Rodents chew a wide variety of materials. Squirrels are known to damage aluminum siding, and mice will chew through electrical wiring.

Suspects

Rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice and voles are among the animals that may chew through shrub netting in order to have access to food or shelter behind the netting. Dogs and cats may chew netting in order to get to animals inside the netting. Animals may also chew the material out of curiosity. Larger animals may break the netting material by standing against it or attempting to climb on it. The height and location of the holes may give you a clue concerning which animal is responsible.

Types

Two types of netting are commonly used on shrubs: netting meant to protect shrubs by excluding birds or lighted netting used to decorate during the holidays. While animals may chew through either type of netting, the latter is the more dangerous to pets, as the wires inside the netting may be electrified.

Problems

Netting is often used to prevent birds from getting to ripening fruits on shrubs. If animals chew through your netting, it will no longer effectively exclude birds from your crop; birds will simply enter through the holes to access your shrubbery. While bird netting is relatively inexpensive and easily replaced, damaged light strands are expensive, and the damage may render outdoor lights no longer weatherproof. Exposed wires and chewed wire coverings may present a fire or electrocution hazard.

Considerations

Polyethylene plastic netting is lightweight and forms easily around shrubs, but it is very easy for animals to chew through. Knitted high-density polyethylene netting materials are more durable than other versions. Dark-colored netting is practically invisible against your plants, so it won't detract from your landscaping, but very small holes chewed in its surface may go unseen. The larger or more tautly stretched the mesh of the netting, the less an animal has to chew to cause a break in the mesh and a breach in your defenses, so use small-diameter mesh if damage is an issue.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Midwest Grape Production Guide
• Washington State University Extension; Protecting Strawberries from Birds with Netting and Mylar Tape; Gary Witmer, Ph.D.; August 1996
• Utah State University Cooperative Extension; Tips for Safely Installing Christmas Lights; Richard Beard; November 2003
• Iowa State University Extension; There's a Mouse in My House!; Jason O'Brien; September 2008
• Utah State University Cooperative Extension; Commensal Rodents; Ben C. West, et al.; December 2010
• Kidport Reference Library; Rodents; Squirrels, Mice, Porcupines and Others