Mousin’ Around

This mouse was found beside the wire it was chewing on.

Rodents are notorious for damage to all sorts of buildings. Red squirrels are particularly damaging to human habitat. Some companies work diligently on preventing the infestation of these animals. Jackson lab, for example, has abundant experience over the years keeping their mice in, and wild ones out.

Mice will undeniably chew wires. Some mobile homes used a vertical notch timber method for a wire raceway. The mice loved this method and quite often wreaked havoc. Mice have been known to chew the length of the wire as if they were craving something in the product. Their favorite snack to chew is the plastic coating on wires which were manufactured in the 1970’s. The insulation on today’s wires do not seem to taste as good to mice. Today’s insulation is most often chewed when a mouse is attempting to enlarge a hole because the mouse itself is too big, and the wire just happens to be in the way.

In the 1950’s, a rodent-proof BX armored cable was developed, possibly named after the Bronx, New York. Although this cable worked exceptionally well to protect against rodents and their chewing habits, this cable has most certainly outlived it’s lifecycle, and the rubber which was used in its insulation has deteriorated. This has proven to be more problematic than its predecessor, knob and tube wiring.

The knob and tube wiring worked well in the battle against rodents, due to its installation requirements as well as style. This wiring method was installed on glass knob insulators and used glass sleeves in penetrations of timbers. This proved to be an effective rodent deterrent. Some wire chewing mice do not fare so well.

Mice prefer to build their home in the shelter of the switch gear in generators.