Electrical Box Openings

Take off as many electrical panel covers as I have and you are bound to see something out of the ordinary. When this electrical panel stuffed with insulation pieces was shown to the owner, he said he observed it some time ago and thought the insulation was placed there on purpose by an electrician.  He was a bit surprised when I informed him that in fact it was a mouse nest that needed to be removed. A mouse can slip through an opening as small as a dime and a mouse had taken advantage of such an opening in this electrical box.  

Again this was a rare find.  However, it is an important reminder to make sure there are not any unsealed openings in an electrical panel or uncovered outlets or light switches that expose electrical connections.

The obvious reason is to ensure that small children who may be prone to sticking things in openings aren't exposed to an electrical shock hazard.  Other reasons include keeping out the occasional unwanted pests that are looking for a nice warm place to call home but may damage electrical connections. Of course, anytime you have an electrical concern, you should always contact a licensed electrician to evaluate the problem to keep everyone in the home safe. Electricians have the special training and know-how to fix the problem properly.