When the lights suddenly go out in the middle of Toronto’s Financial District, most people assume there’s an obvious reason. Maybe it’s a storm, broken equipment, or even human error. But how often do you think about a small animal causing such a big issue? Recently, that’s exactly what happened.

A squirrel left homes and businesses in the dark, creating major disruptions across the city. This unusual event shows the serious problems that come with wildlife-caused power outages. It also makes us think about the bigger challenge of urban infrastructure and wildlife issues.

These types of blackouts are more common than we realize. Knowing how and when squirrels strike highlights how animals can cause issues far beyond what their small size suggests. Toronto has faced similar problems before, and unless we take action, it’s likely to happen again.

Keep reading to learn what exactly happened, why animals are drawn to power systems, and what steps can prevent these incidents in the future.

How a Squirrel Caused a Power Outage

It was a normal Wednesday afternoon when everything in the Financial District suddenly stopped. At 1:20 p.m., businesses lost power. Computers shut down, elevators stalled, and offices fell silent. The surprising cause? A squirrel had come into contact with a transformer at Hydro One’s John Transmission Station. This led to a breaker failure and cut off power to Toronto Hydro customers.

The power outage lasted for about three hours, leaving homes and businesses in the dark. Hydro One and repair teams worked quickly to bring power back late that afternoon. But this wasn’t an isolated event. Just a few months earlier, another squirrel-related blackout impacted parts of Toronto, including Regent Park, Cabbagetown, and the Distillery District.

Across North America, wildlife-caused power outages are surprisingly frequent. Animals chew wires, climb into substations, and accidentally interfere with electrical systems. Even though barriers are in place to protect these areas, they don’t always work. Events like these are a reminder of how vulnerable urban infrastructure is to wildlife interactions.

Why Animals Are Drawn to Power Stations

What draws squirrels to places like power stations? The answer lies in their natural instincts and behaviours. Animals like these often end up in risky spots because of basic needs or survival habits. Here’s why power stations attract them:

• Warmth and Shelter: Power stations and transformers give off heat, especially in colder months. To animals looking for warmth, these areas seem like a great place to nest. Unfortunately, this puts them in danger and can lead to power disruptions.
• The Need to Chew: Squirrels, like all rodents, have teeth that never stop growing. To keep their teeth the right size, they chew on tough materials like wires and insulation. This habit can cause serious damage to electrical systems, triggering outages like the one in Toronto.
• Climbing Skills: These animals are excellent climbers. They can scale poles, fences, and other structures with ease. Even barriers designed to keep them out aren’t foolproof. Their agility allows them to reach spaces most other animals can’t, putting them in contact with dangerous equipment.

The Squirrel Urban Impact of Wildlife-Caused Power Outages

A power outage in a busy city like Toronto doesn’t just leave the lights off. Its effects can ripple across homes, businesses, and public services in no time.

Toronto’s Financial District depends on electricity for everything. Banks, stock markets, and offices need power to keep their operations running smoothly. A long blackout disrupts schedules and can lead to significant financial losses. Restaurants and grocery stores face another level of stress. When refrigeration goes down, food spoils, customers are turned away, and profits plummet.

Safety is also a big concern during an outage. Streetlights without power make intersections dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. Elevators can stop working, leaving people stuck. Emergency equipment may also fail or take longer to respond. During extremely cold winters or hot summers, losing power can quickly turn into a health risk for families at home.

The cost of fixing damage caused by wildlife-caused power outages is also a major issue. Utility companies need to replace ruined equipment and install better protective measures to avoid another blackout. These expenses take time and money, and customers often see higher utility bills as a result.

Every outage reminds us of how important it is to protect urban infrastructure while also addressing issues caused by wildlife.

Preventing Future Power Outages

What can we do to stop events like these from happening again? The goal is to find a way to secure power systems while also protecting the animals themselves. Here are some key steps to reduce the chances of another outage caused by wildlife interactions.

• Improve Electrical Equipment Security: Utility companies are working on ways to keep animals out of power stations and away from transformers. This includes adding better barriers, sealing entry points, and using materials that animals are less likely to chew on.
• Reduce Food Sources: Animals are often drawn to areas near power stations because of nearby food sources. Limiting access to garbage bins, clearing fruit-bearing trees, and removing bird feeders in these spots can make the area less appealing.
• Secure Openings in Homes and Buildings: If squirrels can’t find shelter near power stations, they may look for homes or other buildings to nest in. Covering vents, chimneys, and other small openings can keep them out of attics or walls, stopping further damage.
• Humane Wildlife Removal: At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we use safe and humane solutions like one-way doors. These doors allow animals to leave an area but stop them from coming back inside. This method protects both the animals and your home from future problems.

Using these strategies can make a real difference. It’s all about finding a balance that safeguards power systems while respecting wildlife.

Protecting Your Home or Business

Wildlife-caused power outages can seem like a small nuisance, but their impact is often much bigger. From blackouts in Toronto’s Financial District to similar events across North America, these disruptions show how important it is to address the challenges of wildlife interacting with urban infrastructure.

At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we’re here to help keep your property safe. With humane solutions like one-way doors, we remove animals safely and make sure they can’t come back inside. Don’t wait for a small issue to turn into a big problem. Contact us today to request a quote or learn more about how to prevent wildlife-related issues before they happen.

When we work together, we can protect both your property and the wildlife around us, creating a safer environment for everyone.