Critters vs. High Voltage Power Equipment
At electric utilities, we understand that the high voltages that we utilize in order to move electricity over the long distances from where it is generated to where it is needed are dangerous. Our lineworkers are very highly trained in what it takes to work on this equipment safely and efficiently in such a way that our customers usually never even know that anything happened, and we have engineers on staff to ensure that our systems are designed in such a way that they work effectively and keep the public safe, even when things don't go right. We bury our lines or put them quite a ways up in the air so that they're not easily accessible, we put wildlife covers on as much as can be covered up, and we fence in our substations where things do come close to the ground.
But, even with all of that, things can still go wrong. Most commonly, this comes in the form of an animal. Whether large or small, animals are some of the most curious and determined creatures on this planet. They will see something that looks interesting or like it could have food in it and they will crawl to it, crawl on it, dig at it, and otherwise work their way into things in or on which they have no business. And, once they get there, they almost never get the opportunity to learn that electricity is not forgiving, nor is it gentle. The gallery below shows one such raccoon that didn't get to learn this lesson.
Please note: This gallery is not for the squeamish or faint-of-heart!
