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Squirrels. That's why I don't use awnings.

I've had awnings on my old house destroyed twice by squirrels ripping them apart for nesting.

These squirrels just showed up in the last 50 years or so?

Squirrels were intentionally introduced into American cities ~150 years ago:

Don't be daft. Animals certainly interfered with awnings when they were common, but there weren't alternatives then.