Hundreds of Midwestern Power customers and two squirrels were very unlucky one day last fall.
Apparently a squirrel came into contact with an overhead transformer and knocked out service to 177 customers. Power was restored in just under an hour, but naturally the squirrel lost it’s life. The remains were found by repair crews.
Just 40 miles away in Ironwood, Mich, another squirrel got into a substation and caused a temporary power outage that affected 1400 customers.
The power company is now thinking about what kind of steps it can take to keep curious animals away from the lines as they, along with weather, are one of the leading causes of power outages.
“We kind of liken it to anyone who’s had a bird feeder and tried to keep the squirrels out,” said the power company spokesperson. “They find a way.”
Good luck!
A mouse chewed a wire in our house once that put our power out. The hydro company came out and discovered a dead mouse next to the broke wire.
Man, squirrels are just rats with big tails. I’m not sure why people think they are cute.
Hm, could be a squirrel conspiracy.