Mmm fibre cables: Rodents chew up Laurentian University internet connection

Luc Roy was preparing for a long weekend of camping on June 30 when he suddenly started to receive alarms,notifying him that Laurentian University's internet was down inSudbury, Ont.

As chief information officer, Roy checked the strength of the school's fibre-optic wires, and discovered that one of the connections had been nibbled through.

The suspected culprits? Rodents.

"If there's a rat listening, I would caution it to eat fibrebecause it is glass at the end of the day," Roy said.

Laurentian's online network came back online within a few hours, according to Roy.

He said he has dealt with all kinds of computer problems, but nothing ever like this.

From a bugto a rat in the system

"It's so funny," Roy said.

"I remember the word bug. When you have a bug in the system. It was literally because it was a bug that was actually back in the '70's that was found in the computer, and that actually caused an issue. So I guess now in new days, I guess we call it a rat now."

Agilis Networks, the company that manages the university'sfibre-optic internet, called the event an isolated occurrence.

The incident may be a first for Laurentian, but it is more common than people think, according to Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control president and CEO Bill Dowd.

Soy-based coating is commonly put on electrical wiring, Dowd said, which provides a tasty food source for mice and rats.

He has even seen animals ruin the cables inside a new BMW.

"When they opened up the hood there was a mother squirrel and babies inside," Dowd said.

"All the electrical wiring was chewed, so this is becoming a more and more prevalent situation."

'They're basically a beaver'

The fibre that was eaten at Laurentian was plastic, according to Agilis Networks.

But since rodent teeth are always growing, Dowd said they will chew on anything for recreation and pleasure.

"They're basically a beaver," Dowd said.

"They constantly need to be chewing. So whether it's electrical wiring, insulation, support they are going to chew."

Calls to deal with rodents are up 20 per cent over last year in all of Dowd's service areas, including Sudbury, southern Ontario, Ottawa and Montreal.

He said the best way to protect homes and businessesis to rodent-proofbuildings by making sure there are not any placescritters can sneak through.

"Rats only need an opening an opening the size of a quarter to get into a residential home," Dowd said.

"Mice only need the size of a dime. Any home in any city in North America is vulnerable."