There are four reasons why rodents gnaw on electrical wires.

First, to grind their teeth — rodent incisors grow continuously throughout their lives (about 0.

5 mm per day); failure to wear them down can lead to overgrowth that punctures the oral cavity.

The insulation and metal conductors of wires provide an ideal material for grinding.

Second, curiosity and exploration — rodents have a strong instinct to explore and gnaw.

Third, certain plastic insulation contains plasticizers like soybean oil that have a weak attractiveness to rodents.

Fourth, electrical wires are often located within wall voids, which are the main travel routes for rodents.

Gnawing on wires is not only an economic loss — gnawing through insulation causes short circuits, a significant cause of residential fires.

According to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a considerable proportion of electrical fires with undetermined causes are attributed to rodents gnawing on wires.

Using metal conduit to protect electrical wiring is an effective preventive measure.