During short-term burials, damage to the PRS™-probe from insects or an animal is unlikely; however, for long-term burials it may be a problem. Although these situations are rare, researchers have experienced PRS™-probe damage from soil micro- and macro -fauna, seagulls, cattle, and bears. Considering that the ion-exchange membrane within the PRS™-probe is made up of cross-linked hydrocarbon chains, depending on the availability of other substrates, it may be unavoidable that an organism looking for a carbon source will eat the membrane. To minimize damage, simply bury the PRS™-probes deep enough or conceal the handles in a manner as to minimize the attention drawn by the PRS™-probes. Having said this, experience has shown that after an animal pulls out and chews on the first one they quickly realize that the nutritional value is not worth the effort. Consequently, in those rare situations when PRS™-probes are removed by wildlife, typically one or two PRS™-probes are removed early on and then never again.