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I suspect you’re right about the reason NYC elec. codes require BX–I once saw some rats in the subway trying their best to ingest the steel track. Their country cousins, mice, are no different–they’ll try to eat anything if they get hungry enough (come to think of it, so will most people). A hungry mouse was the reason my dishwasher in suburban Conn. went kaput one day.
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I suspect you're right about the reason NYC elec. codes require BX--I once saw some rats in the subway trying their best to ingest the steel track. Their country cousins, mice, are no different--they'll try to eat anything if they get hungry enough (come to think of it, so will most people). A hungry mouse was the reason my dishwasher in suburban Conn. went kaput one day.
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Now that I think of it, the first home that I worked on years ago after a small fire, was rewired by an electrician that was also big in the local fire department. He liked metal boxes, bx etc for all the right reasons. But I think wood framed homes offer enough other sources of food and things to chew on that we country folk are generally safe with romex....
As long as you're far enough away from NYC!
Jack : )
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as a licensed pest inspector here in the state of
washington, i read information that has
scientifically proven the fact that the rats (not
mice) need to chew on material (wood, romex,
whatever) to keep their teeth trimmed. if they
have nothing to chew on, their teeth will grow
long enough to curl up around their bodies and
stab them in the butt!! no joke, scientifically
proven. never been to upstate new york, but i'm
sure a rat is rat is rat; there's just different
names and specie
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randy,
I lived in the Virgin Islands for many years and often, because of the temperate climate, much of the living area of your house is wide open to rodents who may wish to stop in to "visit"
During one period of time, I noticed that about 6 of my 16 ounce plastic beer mugs as well as the plastic food strainer were being knawed to oblivion. A friend of mine informed me that rats were doing the damage because they need to constantly wear down their teeth during their lifetimes because, as you pointed out, their teeth never stop growing.
It certainly would be nice if our teeth were designed this way, we would never have to spend all that money on those false ones, but on the other hand, I'm not sure it would be all that much fun getting together with your girlfriend on a Saturday night date to go out for some great plastic to chew on. And just think about the consequences of falling asleep on the couch with your hardhat on after a rough day at work.
Anyway, for those of you who believe that plastic has some wonderful nutritional value for a rat, I hope that randy's message and mine may change your way of thinking. Plastic, contrary to belief, is just not a good source of nutrients , vitamins, minerals, protein, or carbohydrates, although it may have some value as fiber.
What's your opinion?
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Jack- it was probably a small chupacabra. Or your pig?
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Worked on a home near NYC that was remodelled completely once before.
The wiring was done in romex once and bx originally. Quick check of the codes and it seemed NYC uses bx because the rats like to chew on everything.
Well low and behold while tearing apart all we did find some romex that definitely was a teathing area for some critter.
Have never seen this in my Upstate neck of the woods, has anyone else?
Jack : )
*Jack, evolution. As NYC has few natural materials for the rodent population to chew upon, nature has developed the plastic mouse. Your hand's resting on one. It's larger cousin, the plastic rat, has been chompin' on wires for a while. It's no faery (tail) tale.