Some a-hole is cutting my Christmas lights. - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Some a-hole is cutting my Christmas lights. (Page 1 of 3)

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:09:39 PM EDT

Yesterday, I found two of my icicle lights cut when I got home. I replaced the strand. Last night around midnight, I went out to walk the dog and found one more cut. Clean, straight cuts - obviously not squirrel chewing.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:10:44 PM EDT

[#1]

Weird thing to be willing to get shot for.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:12:32 PM EDT

[#2]

It's probably squirrels.

Theyre hitting lights all over the country for some reason.

Https://www.ozarksfirst.com/local-news/squirrel-scrooges-sabotage-christmas-display-by-chewing-through-light-cords/amp/

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:12:35 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Yesterday, I found two of my icicle lights cut when I got home. I replaced the strand. Last night around midnight, I went out to walk the dog and found one more cut. Clean, straight cuts - obviously not squirrel chewing.

https://imageshack.com/i/pokgYKvzj

https://imageshack.com/i/pnrAHRyxj

View Quote

This happens in my AO a lot, it's been proven to be rats via video. Those little assholes make cuts that look just like that.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:12:35 PM EDT

[#4]

Squirrels.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:12:44 PM EDT

[#5]

I wouldn't say obviously not. Those do look chewed to me.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:13:14 PM EDT

[#6]

Happened to me this past week, and a neighbor earlier in the week.

Probably dumb kids daring each other or some really Scroogey people.

But what can you do? I just fixed mine and will keep doing so, not going to let some grinch ruin the Christmas spirit.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:13:41 PM EDT

[#7]

How high up in the tree? Some vandal with a ladder or a 8ft tall vandal?

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:13:44 PM EDT

[#8]

Why would they bother to cut both wires at different angles

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:14:02 PM EDT

[#9]

I don’t know, looks a little squirrelish to me. Side cutters make a lot cleaner cut than that.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:14:50 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Weird thing to be willing to get shot for.

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Lol right

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:15:03 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Why would they bother to cut both wires at different angles

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This
But OP should put a camera on them and post pics of culprit, man or beast

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:15:23 PM EDT

[#12]

That's squirrel teeth homie.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:15:34 PM EDT

[#13]

Somebody stole all of our incandescent bulbs from our yard a few years ago. The left the wires and stole all of the bulbs.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:15:57 PM EDT

[#14]

Dr Jill Biden did it

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:16:49 PM EDT

[#15]

Are squirrels active at night? Must be rats. I've never seen a squirrel out at night.
ETA: OP noticed the lights were out at night, doesn't mean they were cut at night.

Squirrels could easily chew them during the day.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:16:55 PM EDT

[#16]

Squirrels been going insane lately. Watched one drag off a full bag of charcoal from my patio. It was using the paper to make a nest and when it saw me it just grabbed the corner of the bag and ran with it to the fence line. At least it didn't go for the lighter fluid... yet.

They really like the taste of the plastic wiring covers on any type of electrical stuff so check your cars too if stored outside. I've had to break out the old Red Ryder BB gun to help the tree rats understand my truck is not a chew toy.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:17:13 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
It's probably squirrels.

Theyre hitting lights all over the country for some reason.

Https://www.ozarksfirst.com/local-news/squirrel-scrooges-sabotage-christmas-display-by-chewing-through-light-cords/amp/

View Quote

Soy-based plastic insulation on the wires. I shit you not.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:17:13 PM EDT

[#18]

I had seen a story once indicating that AC circuits give off a hum that attracts rodents.

Probably works on squirrels too.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:17:37 PM EDT

[#19]

We have this thread every fucking year.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:17:44 PM EDT

[#20]

Squirrel is asshole.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:18:05 PM EDT

[#21]

ALL SQUIRRELS MUST DIE. Fuck those flying rat fucks.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:18:19 PM EDT

[#22]

Heavier wire 440 volts. Dampen the ground. You will have your answer.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:19:08 PM EDT

[#23]

Clark?

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:22:06 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
How high up in the tree? Some vandal with a ladder or a 8ft tall vandal?

View Quote

Not very high. I didn't need a ladder for anything I put up.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:22:37 PM EDT

[#25]

Rabbits

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:22:38 PM EDT

[#26]

This same post comes up every year in my AO.

There is nobody walking around cutting wires. No night time bandits with wire snips. Just think of how stupid that sounds.

This is all rodent, rabbit, squirrel damage. All of it. The chew the wires. It looks like a clean cut. Rats will bite a wire ever few inches and it looks like something malicious. It’s not. This is all rodent damage.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:23:42 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
Squirrel is asshole.

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Most likely Chinese Flying Squirrels.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:23:43 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
Yesterday, I found two of my icicle lights cut when I got home. I replaced the strand. Last night around midnight, I went out to walk the dog and found one more cut. Clean, straight cuts - obviously not squirrel chewing.

https://imageshack.com/i/pokgYKvzj

https://imageshack.com/i/pnrAHRyxj

View Quote

Those are not clean cuts and are at different angles. And which is more likely? A vandal cutting just two of your lights, or a squirrel chewing two?

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:23:50 PM EDT

[#29]

Get a cheap game cam if you don't have one, solved.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:27:46 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
Somebody stole all of our incandescent bulbs from our yard a few years ago. The left the wires and stole all of the bulbs.

View Quote

It's either squirrels or demokRATS!

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:30:10 PM EDT

[#31]

Those are 100% varmint marks

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:30:30 PM EDT

[#32]

Trail cam? Or why don’t you have a camera system. These are crazy times and they are crazy cheap

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:31:06 PM EDT

[#33]

Doesn't look like a tool cut to me, I vote squirrel also.

Are you sure about the timing, or possibly only notice the damage after dark? Cause around here squirrels aren't nocturnal.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:31:07 PM EDT

[#34]

Ok, so it's probably a squirrel. I put up the same lights every year. I wonder why they are a problem this year?

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:31:44 PM EDT

[#35]

I used to install and maintain residential solar, PV, dhw and pool/spa heating. The pool panels flow water thru them to heat it, then returns to the pool. Squirrels could hear the water (I guess, maybe smell?) and they would chew thru the vanes to drink it. Some people would call at least once a month for a leak repair from squirrels

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:32:01 PM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:

It's either squirrels or demokRATS!

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Somebody stole all of our incandescent bulbs from our yard a few years ago. The left the wires and stole all of the bulbs.

It's either squirrels or demokRATS!

This was in the Willow Glen area of San Jose. They stripped our front lawn tree bare.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:33:33 PM EDT

[#37]

330 conibear will get those squirrels......

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:34:22 PM EDT

[#38]

its a squirrel and probably just one

I just trapped and relocated the one at my folks that was doing the same, took out 2 strings, chewed the wire and took the bulb(large ones) I looked to see where is was stashing them but never found any.

this is the 1st time in 15 years they have had an issue

we had one that like red bulbs a few years ago at our place

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:36:52 PM EDT

[#39]

Didn’t just eat before hanging those did you? I can some video cables years ago to only have squirrels to come along the net day and eat them. I guess I should have washed my hands after lunch.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:37:51 PM EDT

[#40]

Examining the pic. Its small ground animal.
But go ahead and get paranoid.
Don't forget your bump helmet when conducting patrolz.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:38:10 PM EDT

[#41]

If squirrels or rats you obviously need to up the power.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:39:31 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:
Squirrel is asshole.

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hold on to your nuts

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:39:56 PM EDT

[#43]

Quote History

Quoted:

Soy-based plastic insulation on the wires. I shit you not.

View Quote

And they sometimes use a peanut oil-based lubricant during the manufacturing process. Same with some car wiring harnesses. Which is why the mice like to chew them.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:40:41 PM EDT

[#44]

Happened to us as well. Squirrels. I seen them.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:40:43 PM EDT

[#45]

Those are ragged bite marks - not cuts.

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:41:30 PM EDT

[#46]

First pic does NOT look like a clean cut at all OP lol. Looks like squirrels bro

Posted: 12/19/2020 2:49:55 PM EDT

[#47]

That’s squirrels. My neighbors leave theirs up year round. We had one litter of retarded young squirrels (they weren’t very bright) chew the bulbs off the their lights and bury them in our yard. I still find one or two a year.