In American Samoa I remember seeing metal sheets wrapped around the palm trees to keep coconut crabs from climbing up.

I wonder if chicken wire would deter lobbyists?

How is chicken wire going to keep a rat from climbing a tree. That would be adventure climbing for a rat.

When I was a child there was a mailbox just like this one on our street corner. I can't begin to count the times we used it a base during neighborhood tag games.

Actually, this looks much many of the letter boxes we still have here in France.

Knowing DC, and depending perhaps on the tree, such improvised devices are often intended to keep rats off. In some climes, sheet metal panels are wrapped around and affixed to palm trees to protect the coconut from the hungry rodent.

Where I live this was done to protect the trees in a park (near a stream) from beavers. This would seem unlikely in this case.

Strangely enough, that's what was officially termed a "post" style collection box. Get all aesthetic on me, will ya.

Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe.
-- John Lennon

Actually, it's more of a question. Does anyone know the purpose of the chicken-wire wrapped around the tree? I have my own idea, something to do with keeping horses from nibbling on the bark, but this is clearly speculation.
I would like to hear from someone who does know the correct intended purpose.

But, yes, it is art, too.

Who could possibly leave a comment for this photo? It's just plain art.