The rats ate my car…

It is fairly well known that rodents like to have a nibble on wires and cables. But why? And what are the consequences of them having a chew on your wires?

Why do rodents gnaw on cables?

Rodents have very strong teeth, with a much harder enamel than on human teeth, which allows them to chew through materials such as wood, plastic and electrical cables. Unlike human teeth, their teeth do not stop growing, so they have to gnaw on things to keep their teeth short. Due to a gap in their teeth, called a diastema, they can spit any chewed material out and therefore don’t eat it. It is thought they particularly like cables due to their shape and ease at which they can gnaw on them.

What are the consequences?

When rats gnaw on wiring within houses, they often attack the plastic insulation on the outside of the wiring, which leaves the wiring exposed. In some cases this can lead to house fires. So it is always worth getting that noise in your loft checked out, because ignoring it can have pretty bad consequences.

It is not just homes that can have the wiring damaged. We have had several cases of them chewing through cables within bin lorries and cars. This has been in the news recently, as there have been many instances of this happening to new electric cars such as Teslas. They use a soy-based plastic insulation to protect the wires and even though this is thought to be more environmentally friendly, it would appear that it is tastier too!

If you would like more information about the services we offer regarding rodents, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.

Combining an extensive knowledge of pests and a commitment to safe procedures, Pest Solution offers Pest Management that you can trust.