Wiktor Wise
Squirrels are a common cause of electrical disruptions and power outages. They are drawn to substations and electrical transformers as they provide a warm, quiet, and dark place to nest. Squirrels can chew on wires, causing short circuits and power outages, as well as the electrocution of the animal. They can also tunnel under fences and damage underground cables. The American Public Power Association (APPA) has developed a data tracker called The Squirrel Index to monitor and analyze the impact of squirrels on electrical power systems. While the exact number of squirrel deaths due to electricity is unknown, it is safe to say that it is a significant issue that has affected many countries, including the United States, Germany, and Japan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of squirrel-related outages in 24 U.S. states between 27 May 2013 and 31 August 2013 | 50 |
| Percentage of outages caused by squirrels out of all animal-related outages | 48% |
| Average percentage of all annual outages caused by squirrels in Unitil's service territory | 8.5% |
| Average percentage of service interruptions caused by squirrels within Unitil's service area | 8.5% |
| Number of deaths associated with squirrel interference with infrastructure in the U.S. as of January 2017 | 6 |
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What You'll Learn
Squirrels are a leading cause of power outages
Squirrels have a knack for interfering with electrical infrastructure, particularly power lines and substations. They use power lines for travel and rest, sometimes climbing onto electrical transformers and causing electrical shorts that result in power outages and, unfortunately, their own electrocution. Squirrels also seek out substations as warm and quiet places to nest, where they can cause extensive damage by gnawing on cables, toppling equipment, and triggering fires and explosions.
The impact of squirrels on power outages is significant. In 2015, a squirrel caused a power outage in Richmond, VA, halting electricity to much of the city and affecting businesses, schools, and universities. Squirrels have also been responsible for outages at airports, a Veterans Affairs medical center, and the NASDAQ. In 2003, a squirrel contributed to the Northeast blackout, demonstrating the far-reaching consequences of these furry intruders.
The issue is not limited to urban areas. Squirrels' habit of tunneling can lead to damage to underground electricity lines, resulting in short circuits and power outages. This was evident in the case of ground squirrels at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, who interfered with underground nuclear missile sites by tunneling under fences.
While the exact number of squirrel-related deaths due to electricity is unknown, it is clear that squirrels are a leading cause of power outages. Their ability to disrupt electrical grids and cause widespread havoc has even led to their weaponized portrayal in the media. Preventative measures, such as installing critter guards on pole-mounted transformers, can help reduce animal damage and minimize the impact of squirrels on power outages.
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Squirrels can cause substation explosions
Squirrels have been known to cause power outages by disrupting power grids and damaging electrical distribution facilities. They do this by chewing through electrical insulation, simultaneously coming into contact with two conductors at different electrical potentials, and tunneling under fences to bypass motion detectors. While this behavior has been a source of humor for some commentators, squirrels are far from harmless. In fact, they pose a significant threat to electrical grids and other critical infrastructure.
Squirrels are attracted to substations because they provide a warm, quiet, and dark place to nest. Once inside, they can cause a great deal of damage by gnawing on cables, toppling equipment, and triggering transformer fires and explosions. These fires and explosions can lead to power outages and costly damage to electrical equipment, sometimes resulting in thousands of dollars in damages for power companies.
Squirrels have been responsible for a significant number of power disruptions due to their tunneling habits. When they dig their burrows, they often damage the underground electricity lines, causing short circuits and subsequent power outages.
In one notable incident, a squirrel shorted out a substation in Richmond, VA, in 2015, halting electricity to much of the city and causing schools and businesses, including Virginia Commonwealth University, to close. Another incident occurred in Trumbull, CT, in 1987, when a squirrel caused a power failure that shut down NASDAQ's computer center for about an hour, potentially preventing 20 million trades.
To prevent squirrel-related damage and power outages, some companies offer physical barriers that squirrels cannot get through, such as Critter Guard's Line Guard and Pole Guard products. These barriers prevent squirrels from accessing power lines and substations, helping to safeguard electrical equipment and infrastructure from costly damage.
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Squirrels can chew through power lines
Squirrels have been known to cause power outages and electrical disruptions by chewing through power lines and damaging electrical infrastructure. While it may seem humorous to some, the threat posed by squirrels to power grids and electrical systems is significant and widespread. In fact, according to John C. Inglis, the former deputy director of the U.S. National Security Agency, squirrels pose a greater threat to the U.S. electrical grid than cyberattacks.
Squirrels are rodents, and like other rodents, they instinctively chew on objects to keep their teeth filed down. This includes electrical wires, power lines, and even the protective insulation around them. The smell or warmth from electrical wires may attract squirrels, and they may also seek out substations as warm, quiet places to nest. As a result, squirrels can cause shorts, power outages, and electrical fires.
There have been numerous instances of squirrels causing power outages and electrical damage. For example, in 2015, a squirrel shorted out a substation in Richmond, VA, halting electricity to much of the city. Squirrels have also been blamed for a power failure in Trumbull, CT, in 1987, which shut down the NASDAQ exchange for over an hour. In another instance, a squirrel caused millions of tent caterpillars to cover transformer lines in eastern and southeastern Texas in 2015, blowing fuses and causing havoc.
To prevent squirrels from chewing through power lines and causing electrical damage, several measures can be taken. These include sealing off entry points, using steel mesh or heavy-gauge sheet metal to block areas, applying hot pepper repellent spray to wires, protecting wires with rodent tape or rodent-resistant braided sleeving, and keeping trees and bird feeders away from power lines. While it is challenging to stop squirrels from chewing on power lines, taking preventative measures can help reduce the risk of electrical fires and power outages.
Overall, while it may seem like an unusual problem, squirrels chewing through power lines is a significant issue that can have serious consequences. By taking preventative measures and being vigilant about squirrel activity, we can help reduce the impact of squirrels on our electrical systems.
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Squirrels can cause power outages by climbing on transformers
Squirrels are the animal most frequently associated with power outages. They are drawn to electrical transformers and power lines, which they use for travel and rest. When a squirrel climbs onto an electrical transformer, it may cross the bare wire that leads from the high-voltage line to the transformer. If it simultaneously touches this wire and a part of the transformer that is sufficiently grounded, an electrical short can occur, causing a power outage and potentially electrocuting the animal.
Squirrels are known to cause power outages by climbing on transformers and chewing on wires. They also seek out substations as warm, quiet, and dark places to nest. Once inside, they can gnaw on cables, topple equipment, and trigger transformer fires and explosions. Squirrels have caused significant disruptions to power grids by damaging electrical distribution facilities and biting electrical cables.
In the United States, squirrels have caused power outages in multiple states, including Pennsylvania, Iowa, Oregon, and Connecticut. In one notable incident in 2015, a squirrel shorted out a substation in Richmond, Virginia, halting electricity to much of the city and affecting businesses, schools, and universities. Squirrels have also interfered with underground nuclear missile sites, such as at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, by tunneling under fences and bypassing motion detectors.
The American Public Power Association (APPA) monitors squirrel-caused grid disruptions in the U.S. and has developed "The Squirrel Index" (TSqI) to analyze the pattern and timing of "squirrel attacks" on electrical power systems. According to security researchers like Cris Thomas, squirrels have caused power outages in all 50 states, including Hawaii, which does not have a native squirrel population.
While the exact number of squirrel deaths due to electricity is unknown, squirrels are indeed a leading cause of power outages. Their ability to access and damage electrical infrastructure highlights the ongoing challenge of protecting power grids from wildlife interference.
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Squirrels can cause economic losses due to power outages
Squirrels are a major cause of power outages, and the economic losses that result from these disruptions can be significant. While it may seem amusing to some, the impact of squirrels on electrical infrastructure is no trivial matter. Squirrels are attracted to electrical substations as they provide a warm, quiet, and dark place to nest. Once inside, they can cause extensive damage by gnawing on cables, knocking over equipment, and even triggering fires and explosions. This damage can lead to power outages affecting homes, businesses, schools, and critical infrastructure.
One notable example occurred in Richmond, Virginia, in 2015, when a squirrel shorted out a substation, halting electricity to much of the city. The resulting power outage closed businesses and schools, including Virginia Commonwealth University. In another instance, a squirrel caused a power failure in Trumbull, Connecticut, in 1987, shutting down the NASDAQ's computer center for over an hour and potentially disrupting the trading of 20 million shares. These incidents highlight the potential economic impact of squirrel-induced power outages.
The impact of squirrels on power grids is not limited to the United States. In 2005, a "cyber squirrel" in Germany crippled the electrical grid south of the River Elster for an hour. Squirrels have also been implicated in power outages in Japan, where they have delayed the implementation of internet connectivity in certain areas. The issue is widespread and consistent enough that the American Public Power Association (APPA) has developed a data tracker called "The Squirrel Index" to analyze the patterns and timing of "squirrel attacks" on electrical power systems.
The economic losses caused by squirrel-induced power outages can be substantial. Power outages can disrupt businesses, leading to lost revenue and productivity. They can also affect essential services such as hospitals and transportation systems, impacting public safety and convenience. Additionally, the repair and replacement of damaged electrical equipment can incur significant costs for power companies and infrastructure providers. While the exact figures may be challenging to calculate, there is no denying that squirrel-induced power outages result in economic losses for individuals, businesses, and industries reliant on a stable power supply.
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Frequently asked questions
While there are no specific numbers, squirrels are the animal most often associated with power outages and are responsible for thousands of outages each year. Squirrels are also the top animal offenders in causing electrical disruptions, with raccoons and birds coming after them.
Squirrels are known to chew through electrical wires and cables, which can lead to short circuits and power outages. They also like to nest in substations, where they can cause significant damage by gnawing on cables, toppling over equipment, and triggering fires and explosions.
Squirrel-caused power outages can have a range of effects, from closing businesses and schools to disrupting transportation systems and financial institutions. For example, a squirrel caused a power failure in Trumbull, CT, in 1987, shutting down the NASDAQ's computer center and potentially preventing the trading of 20 million shares.
