Tuesday was National Squirrel Appreciation Day, and electric utilities used it as an opportunity to highlight some of the things they do to keep our little furry friends from knocking out power to everyone.
Consumers Energy spokesperson Trisha Bloembergen tells us critters are responsible for 8% of power outages.
“Wildlife in general, including raccoons and mice and all of the general wildlife that we have around Michigan that we love, unfortunately, they do have a tendency to get into things and cause issues,” Bloembergen said.
Bloembergen says creatures like squirrels have a way of getting into tight spaces, so it takes special measures to protect them and our power supply. Since 2012, Consumers Energy has done more than 600 animal mitigation projects, and she says they’ve made a difference.
“This past year, we’ve actually seen an over 20 minute reduction in the amount of time that average customers are without power.”
Bloembergen says wildlife mitigation strategies include creating barriers that prevent animals from burrowing under or sneaking through entry points, transparent shields that block access to critical equipment, and cage-like structures designed to protect breakers.
Meanwhile, with National Squirrel Appreciation Day Tuesday, fans of the critters were asked to toss them a few nuts, think about setting up a squirrel feeder, or simply to watch their antics from a respectful distance.
