3 ms·

Could you make cable that is very untasty for squirrels, but environment-friendly otherwise?

• knodi123 7y ago
  licorice data lines?
• dreamcompiler 7y ago
  Probably. Part of the problem is that many modern electrical insulation materials--in an effort to be eco-friendly--are made of soy derivatives. When such materials are used for wires in car engines, as they frequently are in Japanese cars, rats consider them dinner. I live in a rural area, and I've spent many $K on this problem. Whether there's an equally "natural" material that rodents don't like is a question that should be researched.
  • ncmncm 7y ago
    They could put capsaicin in the insulation, if they cared. That wouldn't help against Australian parrots but rodents are the clearly bigger problem, most places.
    • dreamcompiler 7y ago
      Probably that would require assembly workers to wear gloves. But perhaps they already do.
    • yareally 7y ago
      Parrots are immune to the pain effects of capsaicin because it doesn't attach to their receptors and many actually love eating hot peppers. https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_did_birds_adapt_to_eat_hot_peppers2 https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_did_birds_adapt_to_eat... https://www.maddog357.com/parrots-peppers-no-sweat/ https://www.maddog357.com/parrots-peppers-no-sweat/ https://www.parrots.org/ask-an-expert/are-hot-peppers-good-for-your-parrot https://www.parrots.org/ask-an-expert/are-hot-peppers-good-f...
      • ncmncm 7y ago
        It is likely that the different perceptual capacities of mammals and birds is the actual reason why peppers produce capsaicin. They "want" their fruit eaten by birds, who will scatter the seeds widely, not by mammals who will not.