Fowl behaviour shutting down phone, internet service in rural N.S. community

A rural community in Nova Scotia's South Shore is dealing with an unlikely disruptorto hometelephone and internet service: woodpeckers.

David Whynot, who lives in Branch LaHave, said the tiny birds have been chewing holes in overhead phone cables in the area for more than a decade.

"I'm frustrated, very,very frustrated," he said.

On rainy days when water gets in the holes, Whynot said that usually wipes out his home telephone and internet service.

He said he's worried that in the event of an emergency, people won't be able to get help from authorities.

Whynotsaid he walked a three-kilometre stretch of Lower Branch Road, where he lives, and counted 168 spots on the lines that had been repaired due to woodpecker pecking.

The repairs are basically black or yellow bags fastened over the broken portion of the cable, a short-term solution to keep the water out.

Whynot said technicians from Bell Aliant come out to the area once in a while to repair the damaged lines.

He said he's made countless calls to Bell Aliantabout the problem.

"They were so used to me calling and complaining, [they] used to call me Woodpecker Whynot," he said.

Katie Hatfield, a spokesperson for Bell Aliant, said the company is finalizing plans for a more permanent solution.

"This spring, we'll be replacing a six-kilometre stretch of telephone line in Lower Branch with a fortified cable that will better stand up to woodpecker activity," she said in an email.

The company will also be installing a new 14-kilometre cable from Bridgewater to Upper Branchto fix woodpecker damage in that area.

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