A Tiny Furry Culprit: How a Squirrel Knocked Out Power in New Westminster
When a small squirrel met a big power grid, thousands of residents were left in the dark. Here’s how the squirrel power outage happened, why it matters, and what comes next.
A Sudden Blackout, an Unlikely Cause
On a quiet morning in New Westminster, thousands of homes and businesses lost power without warning. For many residents, the outage meant coffee machines stalled, Wi-Fi signals vanished, and offices went silent. Within hours, BC Hydro confirmed the surprising culprit: a squirrel that had come into contact with electrical equipment, triggering a squirrel-related power outage.
While the incident drew lighthearted jokes online, the consequences were no laughing matter. Hospitals switched to backup systems, businesses faced costly downtime, and families scrambled to adapt. What looks like a small, even comical story raises bigger questions about how vulnerable modern cities are to even the tiniest disruptions.
Why Squirrels and Power Grids Don’t Mix
Animal-related outages aren’t rare. In fact, squirrels are among the leading causes of unplanned power disruptions across North America. According to the American Public Power Association, squirrels alone account for thousands of outages each year, often more than severe weather.
So why squirrels?
- They’re agile climbers, able to reach high-voltage equipment with ease.
- Their sharp teeth instinctively chew through wires and insulation.
- Unlike storms or equipment failures, their behavior is unpredictable and hard to prevent.
Local residents may recall a similar incident in Vancouver in 2020, when another squirrel took down part of the city’s downtown grid. Globally, Japan, the U.S., and even the U.K. have reported comparable cases, underscoring that urban infrastructure everywhere is more fragile than it seems.
Behind the Blackout: Response and Resilience
For utility crews, animal-caused outages present unique challenges. Unlike downed power lines after a storm, the equipment often needs careful inspection to locate the precise fault.
In New Westminster, BC Hydro technicians were dispatched within minutes. Working under pressure, they traced the disruption to a substation, confirmed the squirrel’s involvement, and began restoration. Within a few hours, most customers had their power back after this squirrel power outage.
One BC Hydro spokesperson noted, “Our crews are trained to handle these situations quickly, but it highlights the hidden risks we face daily in maintaining a reliable grid.”
The unsung heroes in these scenarios are not only the lineworkers but also hospital staff, IT managers, and emergency responders who keep essential services running during blackouts. Their ability to act fast minimizes the broader social and economic impact.
The Bigger Picture: Lessons for the Future
While this outage will likely be remembered for its quirky cause, it points to a bigger issue: the resilience of urban power systems in the face of small, unexpected threats like a squirrel power outage.
Key takeaways:
- Community Impact: Even short blackouts affect schools, healthcare, and local businesses.
- Economic Costs: A single outage can cost businesses thousands in lost productivity.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Many substations and transformers lack adequate wildlife protection.
Solutions are emerging. Utilities across North America are experimenting with animal guards, insulated wiring, and better substation designs to keep curious critters out. Public awareness campaigns also encourage communities to report risky nesting sites near power equipment.
As climate change increases the frequency of severe weather, the reliability of the grid becomes even more critical. If a squirrel can expose weaknesses, cities must ask: what happens when multiple threats—storms, fires, cyberattacks—arrive at once?
What Residents Can Do
While grid resilience is largely the responsibility of utilities, residents can take steps to prepare for a squirrel power outage:
- Keep emergency kits with flashlights and backup chargers.
- Invest in surge protectors to safeguard electronics.
- Explore small-scale backup options like solar panels or generators.
A Small Creature, A Big Reminder
The New Westminster squirrel may be gone, but the story lingers as a reminder that even the smallest actors can have an outsized impact on city life. As urban infrastructure becomes more complex, so too does its vulnerability. Ensuring reliability means planning for everything—from storms and wildfires to a single, curious squirrel causing a power outage.
