Middlesex County Rat Removal Tip: Why Do Rats Chew On Wires?

The resounding answer is yes. Rats chew on many things, they have no preference. Of course, people often think that rats seek out wires to chew on and destroy. While they do chew on wires, a lot, they do not specifically seek them out. Here is the low down on rats and their chewing behavior. When rats take up residence in a home or office, it is usually in the walls or attic. They want to be close to humans, so they can forage, but they don't really want to come into contact with them.

The walls and attics tend to provide a warm, cozy place to burrow and nest in insulation. Remember, they are there to forage and reproduce. Water and food sources are typically near by in the rest of the dwelling.

Finding Wires

Since rats are most often in walls and attics, they come across wires. This is where the electrical system is typically run, hidden in the walls and the attic. In fact, there is an abundant supply.

Rats will chew on anything in their path. They have a constant need to chew. Their teeth are very sharp, and they grow continuously. Rats must consistently chew to keep their teeth sharp and wear them down, otherwise they will get too long. It is the same reason that cats need to claw on things. Their claws are constantly growing.

When rats are moseying around in an attic or wall, wires are usually the most abundant objects for chewing. Rats are not exclusive to any one type of wire. They will chew insulated wires, wires with rubber on them and even wires on appliances. They just want to chew.

Wires are small and hard, just the right size to fit into tiny rat mouths to satisfy their urges. It is much easier for them to work on some nearby wires than to grab the end of the two-by-four, although they are not above chewing on wood.

Hazards

Rats cause millions of dollars in damage to American homes and offices annually. Much of this is due to the hazards caused by chewing on wires. It is not uncommon for them to cause a fire hazard after chewing on wires and shorting out electrical systems. Unfortunately, many of those fires are disastrous.

Rat populations are hard to contain and eliminate. They can survive some pretty horrible conditions. If you suspect you have rats, call an expert. The longer you wait, the bigger the population grows and the more damage they will cause.