‘Squirrel-Related Power Outages’ Might Be the Most New Hampshire Thing I’ve Ever Heard

This is not a hot take, but squirrels in New Hampshire are far from innocent. Those pesky little rodents climb into our bird feeders and take all of our birdseed for themselves (but we do have some tips and tricks on how to protect your birdseed here).

They are selfish little scoundrels that take, take, take, and rarely give. Yes, I take the actions of squirrels very personally.

But did you know squirrels are also the culprit of 11% of the power outages in the state, according to Unitil?

Unitil is an electric company and one of the largest providers in the state. Every year, they host a social media campaign that raises awareness around the hazards to electricity posed by squirrels and other wildlife.

How do squirrels cause power outages?

Squirrel-related outages may be cause by squirrels chewing on power lines, building nests on equipment, or venturing into areas they shouldn't.

Cute, right? Until you lose power smack dab in the middle of your work day.

We all think about weather-related power outages, but rarely do we think an outage is caused by a facetious rodent! Hence the importance of Squirrel Awareness Week.

What can be done to avoid squirrel related outages?

Unitil has added animal guards and other protective equipment in an effort to keep out wildlife safe and prevent damage to infrastructure. However, some animals still manage to sneak around these safeguards and cause damage.

Have you been the victim of a squirrel-related power outage?