What can mice gnaw? - briefly
Mice gnash a range of soft and hard substances, from grains, fruits, and cheese to wood, plastic, and electrical wiring. Their continuously growing incisors compel constant chewing to prevent overgrowth.
What can mice gnaw? - in detail
Mice possess continuously growing incisors that require regular wear. Their dentition enables them to bite through a wide variety of substances, limited primarily by hardness and thickness.
Typical food sources include grains, seeds, nuts, fruits, and dried pet food. These items are soft enough for rapid consumption yet provide sufficient nutrition to sustain mouse populations.
Structural materials frequently damaged by gnawing consist of:
- Soft woods such as pine, spruce, and cedar
- Cardboard and paper products, including packaging and book bindings
- Plastic components with low tensile strength, for example, thin tubing and PVC cables
- Polystyrene foam used in insulation and packaging
Natural vegetation also falls within their capability. Mice will chew on:
- Fresh herbaceous stems and leaves
- Bark of young trees, especially when softer than mature wood
- Rootlets and tubers that are exposed near the soil surface
Metallic objects are generally resistant, but mice can compromise thin metal coverings by first removing surrounding softer material, then exploiting gaps to access interior parts.
In laboratory or domestic settings, additional items observed being gnawed include:
- Electrical cords with rubber sheathing, leading to potential fire hazards
- Foam padding in furniture, which offers both insulation and a chewable texture
- Fabric seams and seams of upholstery, where fibers are easily severed
Overall, any material that combines moderate softness with adequate accessibility may become a target for mouse gnawing. Preventive measures focus on eliminating such vulnerable substrates and employing barriers made from hard, non‑chewable substances.