Rats 'Cripple' NZ Web Access

[BJ_M]

"Drat! It was the rat! Telephone, mobile and Internet access in New Zealand was disrupted over four hours after rats were found gnawing through cables. More than 100,000 customers were affected and even the country's stock exchange came to a standstill. Powerless to take action against the rats, Telecom New Zealand is seeking compensation from the electricity company it says is responsible for knocking out another pipeline which eliminated backup services. Nothing like a backup plan."

[jimmalenko]

What was their backup plan for the backup plan ?

[yoda313]

What was their backup plan for the backup plan ?

Hi,

A flutist!

Kevin

(you know pid piper story )

[jimmalenko]

What was their backup plan for the backup plan ?

A flutist!

You forgot the

[yoda313]

Hi,

Sorry I thought that was your specialty jimmy (besides I don't have that smiliey on my harddrive for quick reach )

Kevin

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Maybe the next time they should include in their budgets "Using anti-rodent cable".

[guns1inger]

You mean don't use the ones made of cheese ? But they are so cheap.

[yoda313]

You mean don't use the ones made of cheese ? But they are so cheap.

Hi,

CHEESEOPTICS

Hmm I don't seem to remember that option for telecommunications

Kevin

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Here we have a huge rodent problem in our sewers, and the most viable solution was to use cables made of (the plastic part of course) a material that's repellent to rats. Once the rat take a bite, it won't want to do it again. That way the rodents wouldn't eat the cables and the services will be up with no interruptions.

[BJ_M]

hope they tested that because rats like to chew on plastic, many animals do ..

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

They did, actually the plastic is mixed with an ingredient that makes it absolutely intolerable to rats. It's calculated that there are 1200 rats per habitant in Guayaquil.

There's a huge plan going on in order to eliminate them, or at least to lower their numbers significantly, but changing the cables to the new material is just one of the small steps taken to avoid future cuts in the service.

[BJ_M]

they can be got rid of -- but it is difficult to keep them out -- the whole Province of Alberta in Canada got rid of ALL rats 50 years ago because they eat so much grain in the silos and feed lots .. Rats try to gain a foothold, but are dealt with ruthlessly: hammered with poisons, fumigated with carbon monoxide-producing engines, and even individually hunted with firearms. Rat infested habitats, such as old farm buildings, are dismantled or destroyed.

its like open season on them there and they have a 1-800 number to call if you see one ..

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/03/0331_030331_rats_2.html