#21 The Furry Threat - Squirrels vs. The Power Grid

Squirrels may look cute and harmless, but these little critters are actually the #1 threat to the electrical grid in the U.S.! In this episode, hosts Angie and Leigh dive into the surprising phenomenon of power outages caused by squirrels (P.O.C.B.S). You'll learn: What the acronym P.O.C.B.S. stands for and just how widespread these squirrel incidents are across the country How innocent-looking squirrels chewing on power lines can potentially cause havoc to your home's electricity or even be a national security threat The meaning behind the "squirrel index" that utilities use to track these furry troublemakers Astonishing examples like ground squirrels accessing an underground nuclear missile site in Montana Practical tips on what you can do to squirrel-proof your property and prevent these power disruptions Even if they don't mean any harm, squirrels have the potential to create a crazy national incident just by doing what they do naturally. Don't let their cute exterior fool you - these critters are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the power grid! Tune in for this nutty look at squirrels' role in electricity reliability. Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_disruptions_caused_by_squirrels https://web.archive.org/web/20170903125355/http://blog.publicpower.org/sme/?p=730