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Polyurea Elastomer Protects Utility Pole Crossarms From Damage by Pileated Woodpeckers
Author(s) -
TUPPER SHELAGH K.,
ANDELT WILLIAM F.,
CUMMINGS JOHN L.,
WEISNER CHARLES,
HARNESS RICHARD E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.2193/2009-257
Subject(s) - polyurea , coating , elastomer , materials science , composite material , forensic engineering , engineering
Woodpeckers cause severe damage to utility poles and crossarms, resulting in substantial economic losses to utility companies. We evaluated effectiveness of a polyurea elastomer coating material for reducing damage by captive pileated woodpeckers ( Dryocopus pileatus ) to utility pole crossarms. Because woodpeckers inflicted essentially no damage to the fully coated crossarms, we infer that the coating material holds substantial promise for protecting utility pole crossarms. Additional research should be conducted to evaluate the coating under field conditions.