An animal exclusion system comprising first and second conductive elements electrically isolated from each other and each having a different electrical potential applied thereto, the first and second conductive elements each comprising carbonaceous particles in a polymeric binder forming a conductive load bearing surface, the load bearing conductive surface of the first conductive element being close enough to the load bearing conductive surface of the second conductive element for both surfaces to simultaneously be in electrical contact with an animal of predetermined size.