Wildlife: The #1 Cause of Power Outages (Yes, Really!)
When the lights go out, most people assume a storm rolled through or a piece of equipment failed. While weather certainly plays a role, the biggest cause of power interruptions on the Nobles Cooperative Electric system this year might surprise you.
Through the first half of 2026, wildlife has been our leading cause of outages. Small animals and birds were responsible for 1,394 member service interruptions—more than twice as many as equipment-related outages.
How Can Wildlife Cause a Power Outage?
Squirrels, birds, raccoons, and other wildlife don't realize the danger of electrical equipment. When they climb on transformers, substations, power lines, or other energized equipment, they can accidentally create a short circuit.
In many cases, protective devices work exactly as they're designed to, shutting off power to prevent equipment damage and keep the electrical system safe. While that protects the grid, it also means members experience a temporary outage until crews can restore service.
Sometimes it's a squirrel looking for the perfect perch. Other times it's a bird building a nest in the wrong place or landing where it shouldn't.
In fact, a Fourth of July outage at a substation near Chandler was caused by a bird that came into contact with equipment. Needless to say... he won't be doing that again.
Wildlife vs. Equipment
January - June 2026:
1,394 member service interruptions were caused by small animals and birds
569 were caused by equipment faults
179 resulted from all other causes combined
Wildlife caused more outages than any other single factor on our electric system.
What We're Doing
Reducing wildlife-related outages is an ongoing effort. Nobles Cooperative Electric continues to invest in:
- Protective covers and wildlife guards on electrical equipment
- Upgraded equipment designed to reduce animal contact
- System improvements that improve reliability
- Routine inspections and maintenance throughout our service territory
While these improvements help reduce outages, it's impossible to eliminate wildlife encounters entirely. After all, we share our rural landscape with plenty of curious critters.
The Next Time Your Lights Blink...
Before blaming the weather, take a look outside. If the skies are clear, there's a good chance a squirrel, bird, or another curious visitor may have found itself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Our crews are always ready to respond safely to restore power whenever outages occur—whether the cause is Mother Nature, aging equipment, or one particularly adventurous squirrel.
Did You Know?
Wildlife remains one of the biggest reliability challenges facing electric utilities across the country. That's why electric cooperatives continue investing in equipment upgrades and protective devices to keep the lights on for the communities they serve.