Polytunnel holes

Julia_G

Any idea what is causing these tiny holes all over the polytunnel? It's only a year old. They are also on the roof, which we assume might be birds, but they are also around the sides and really in the most random places, there isn't really a pattern. Maybe it could be general wear and tear, weather affecting it etc, but it's only a year old, seems a bit new for damage. Attaching pic of the worst one, will take some others later

LambshankRedemption

Its birds. An insect crawls on the poly material. To the bird it is static somewhere in the air, and it goes and grabs or pecks it, creating a small or sometimes a large hole.

You can get a patching kit online. The holes are actually serious for the tunnel as strong wind can cause a tear - I know this from personal experience.

tphase

Cat scratching?

The Continental Op

I'd second cats as a possible. Not scratching but running up onto the roof and sticking their claws in to get a grip. Its fairly rare, we had one cat that did it a lot and others that never did.

lottpaul

I'd say cats also because they are almost all beside one of the supports. The cat sees it as a pole/branch to climb up, especially if you have an adjacent wall or tree. Personal experience - caught the neighbours tabby scrambling up once. Have no idea how to stop them.

Julia_G

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121908100#Comment_121908100

A belated reply, but this is exactly what it turned out to be. We have lots of folds where insects get trapped, it's a total feeding frenzy for the birds