While snakes aren't known to get themselves into mischievous sticky situations, one of them has managed to cause a major power outage for thousands of residents in North Alabama. This happened when a snake was found dead high up in a substation.
Snake Causes Power Outage
According to WVTM 13, an investigation into a massive power outage in North Alabama led workers to be shocked by what they found. Upon investigation, the workers discovered the cause of the outage was a snake that fried itself on a substation.
This all started with power outages around Boaz, Alabama, causing the Marshall Dekalb Electric Cooperative (MDEC) to investigate the incident. While approaching the site, workers found that the source of the problem was a snake.
The MDEC posted their citings on Facebook, saying they located the problem and wanted to share with the public what had happened. The post included pictures of a snake high up in the air with some of its scales standing upright.
As the company explains, a snake climbed to the Albertville Primary Substation, causing a major power outage. While asking their customers to be patient, the company explained that the TVA bank was responsible for feeding both Cherokee Electric and their own MDEC.
Magnolia State Live reports that approximately 19,000 people were affected by the major power outage caused by the snake. After finding the problem, residents regained their power just a few hours later.
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Why Snakes Climb Poles
A report by ZME Science explains why snakes are climbing poles and how they are known to cause power outages. It was cited that wildlife costs power companies approximately $10 billion in power outages yearly.
Although birds make up more than half, Lori Lyons, a TE Connectivity spokesperson, explained how snakes were also responsible and weren't as far from birds as most would assume.
The reason for snakes climbing poles was that they regularly prey on birds. Often, birds also nest on electrical equipment and poles, causing snakes to also venture onto these fixtures.
The report also highlights how most snakes die while climbing these electrical poles and damaging equipment. ZME Science explains that a single outage could cost $10,000 to repair.
Companies could also experience fines for not being able to protect local wildlife.
Importance of Snakes
Kevin Hamed, a Blacksburg, Virginia resident, explained the importance of protecting snakes, specifically ratsnakes. As such, these snakes play an important role in handling the rodent population.
This would result in crop protection and the fight against tick-borne diseases. In a statement to Roanoke Times, Hamed said farmers would argue that these snakes consume rodents and small mammals, which humans would often call pests.
Ratsnakes also feed off invasive bird species like house sparrows and starlings, which carry risks of possible diseases when coming from Europe. These snakes aren't just predators; they're also prey for eagles, hawks, and owls.
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