How Squirrels and Wildlife Knock Out Power in Michigan

However unsettling it may be, the truth is that somewhere in Michigan, there is a squirrel giving a transformer the stink eye. Unfortunately for the rest of us, that furry little grudge can turn into a power outage.

RELATED: New Study Shows Michigan Blackouts Come With a Big Price Tag

Consumers Energy says squirrels and other wildlife cause around 8% of its outages when they make accidental contact with lines and equipment, especially substations. On a clear, calm day, when nobody can blame lightning, ice, or a maple tree's lawn dive, a critter is likely the culprit.

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a flock of birds sitting on top of power lines

A squirrel can scamper across one wire just fine. The problem starts when it touches a power line and another grounded piece of equipment, or a transformer and a line at the same time. This is not good news for the squirrel or the surrounding neighborhood, which is now looking for batteries and wishing they'd charged their phones.

The Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL) deals with the same furry headache. According to the Lansing State Journal, squirrels and other animals were the top cause of overhead, above-ground outages. The BWL estimates that squirrels caused at least 90% of animal-related incidents.

Preventing Furry Fireworks

a large metal structure with wires

Michigan's utilities are doing what they can to combat animal-related blackouts. Consumers Energy uses substation animal mitigation like gate foundations, polycarbonate barriers, and pole wraps to keep squirrels, raccoons, and other critters away from equipment.

RELATED: Michigan Residents May Qualify for a $42 Power Outage Credit

The Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) says utilities also use bird guards and other deterrents, though wildlife still finds a way to be on the wrong end of an electric current. As a BWL official once joked, a single squirrel can only cause one outage.