Can Rats Chew Through Metal?
WouterIf you have a rat problem, you may be wondering: Can rats chew through metal? In fact, they can, but it depends on the thickness of the metal. Rats are capable of chewing through a variety of materials, including wire mesh, plastic, and even soft metal. However, there are some types of metal that are more difficult for rats to chew through.
The jaws of rats are among the strongest of any rodent. Some studies estimate that they can chew through about 6,000 pounds of force per square inch! This is quite a bit stronger than a human’s jaw, which can only handle about 70 lbs. of force per square inch. Rats can also chew through softer materials, including glass and plastic. They can also chew through electrical wires and drywall.
Rats can chew through a variety of materials, including copper piping. If they get to these pipes, they can cause a leak, which could be costly to repair. Although rats are able to chew through copper, they shouldn’t try it. This is because copper is weak and not designed to be chewed by rats. If you are wondering if rats can chew through metal, you need to understand how a rat’s mouthparts develop.
Although they don’t have canine or bicuspid teeth, rats have a unique set of jaw muscles. These muscles are anchored below the ear sockets, which provides the right amount of leverage for their teeth. The result is an incredible amount of chewing force. When rats chew metal, they grind their teeth against the metal, which causes the metal to vibrate.
