Creatures Vs. The Electrical System (photos)

[M_BROWNLOW]

Greetings Everyone!
I'm new to the Forum.

I was doing a Spring Clean of the garage this weekend and encountered this deceased little fellow sticking out a side knock-out.
I'll have to de-energize the subpanel and pop the cover to investigate what he was up to before he met his fate.

It got me wondering about other creatures that I have encountered who chose to interact with electrical systems in a way we'd prefer they not.
The only other instance that comes to mind was a massive bees nest at a service entrance weatherhead. My visit was after the situation had been dealt with and I can't quite recall if the homeowner, a pest control specialist, or an electrician/POCO took on the assignment.

As I've been working my way through this great Forum I've read occasional mention of creatures (black widows and snakes come to mind) getting a bit too friendly with systems but so far no pictures with the stories.

So come on, share them if you got'em.


click here for full size image

click here for full size image

 

[K8MHZ]

Darn rat contractors trying to get our work!



Welcome to the forum. It's a pretty good one!

 

[Podagrower]

Well, no photo, but...
I had the cover off and meter removed from a meter base trying to chase a loose connection. While tightening the lugs, a lizard chose that moment to jump out of the riser pipe. He landed on the line side of both phases. It never occurred to me how many parts were inside a lizard that could turn to liquid and explode until that day.

 

[ultramegabob]

temp poles are good places to find wasps, in the summer I keep a can of wasp spray on my truck. and I have found mice in panels before, a good reason to use K.O. fillers....

 

[djohns6]

We had one station that became a favorite roost for dozens of Turkey Vultures ( looks like a Buzzard ) . One night , two of my co-workers were in that station working on a relay problem . Apparently one of the vultures decided to perch on top of a circuit breaker and have a good stretch . He went phase to phase across 69 KV . Fireworks ensued along with a subsequent bus differential trip . One of the guys was looking right at it when it happened . He said it was a helluva show . :grin:

 

[brian john]

posted previously, he died with his balnky.

 

[nakulak]

110.12 A ,

 

[Commelec]

Had mice trouble with a radio repeater site so we baited it. Came back for repair a year later (mouse damage), moved the radio cabinet and found a mouse skelleton with a pile of the green fate in the middle of it. It was kinda interesting! I wonder if it was re-useable?

 

[zog]

FP&L job I was on several years ago, thee were 86 rattlesnakes and 1 monster gator. I believe this was the orlando airport expansion, thats me in the red shirt and yes that is electrical tape on his snout.

 

[zog]

This was the cause of a phase to phase arc flash in the back of a 13.8kV breaker, for those of you not familiar with these breakers, the breaker is removed and you are looking at the shutter that drops down to cover the 13.8kV bus when the breaker is racked out.