UPDATE: Squirrel Caused 2,500 Perry Hall Power Outages, BGE Official Says
Baltimore Gas and Electric officials are investigating Perry Hall's sudden Sunday evening power outages.
UPDATE (7:43 p.m)—As of 7:40 p.m. Sunday, electrical power had been restored to about 2,500 homes and businesses in North Perry Hall, a Baltimore Gas and Electric official confirmed.
The widespread outages, between Schroeder Avenue and Honeygo Village Center, began shortly after 6 p.m. The traffic signal at Belair Road and Honeygo Boulevard lost power for about an hour, until shortly after 7 p.m.
Investigators believe the outages were caused by a single squirrel, which disrupted a piece of BGE equipment, according to BGE spokesman Rob Gould.
"This does happen sometimes," he said. "It was a wildlife-caused incident."
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UPDATE (7:18 p.m)—After about an hour-long outage, power was restored to the traffic signal at Belair Road and Honeygo Boulevard in Perry Hall Sunday evening.
Rob Gould, a Baltimore Gas and Electric spokesman, said about 2,500 customers had lost power shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday, during the sudden outage in North Perry Hall. About 400 customers—including those affected on Schroeder Avenue—had been restored as of about 7:10 p.m., he said.
The remaining outages—including hundreds living in communities off Honeygo Boulevard—would likely be restored between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday, Gould said.
The cause of the outage remains under investigation, he added.
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UPDATE (6:35 p.m)—The traffic signal at Belair Road and Honeygo Boulevard in Perry Hall lost power shortly after 6 p.m. on Sunday, while residents in area neighborhoods reported widespread power outages, Baltimore County police confirmed.
Police said officers were en route to the Honeygo intersection as of 6:20 p.m. No obvious cause of the outages had been reported, police said.
Meanwhile, residents from Schroeder Avenue to the Fields At Perry Hall Farms community reported power outages.
Baltimore Gas and Electric officials were not immediately available for comment when contacted by Patch Sunday evening. The outages had not appeared on BGE's outage map as of 6:30 p.m.
Check Patch for updates.
Stacey Schantz
6:55 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
My house is without power - off Cross Rd between Homeygo & Chapel.
Emily Kimball
7:54 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
UPDATE: Believe it or not ... one SQUIRREL caused 2,500 Perry Hall power outages, a BGE official said - http://patch.com/A-vqpp
BALTIMOREDEE
11:03 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
Emily, thank you so much for this information. It's good to know what happened. I'm glad the outage wasn't caused by a car hitting a pole. I wish our neighborhoods had underground BGE wires. Having an outage at Belair Road & Honeygo was a dangerous situation.
CR
8:33 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
Is there an update on his condition? Is he being treated locally or is he in squirrel heaven?
Red Dolphin
9:30 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
Hey ,CR, a rather large Red Tail Hawk was seen swooping down on the "gray furry tailed rodent"
Doug
7:21 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
They taste a lot better when electrically fried, over the road kill method.
Kay
8:07 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
Based on ignorant comments I have read from fellow Perry Hall Patchers, I'm guessing the offending squirrel took the bus from the city! Something MUST be done...
DS
9:20 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
LOL
DS
9:21 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
AND he must of been a Catholic Republican
PapaDog
10:11 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
I feel bad for the squirrel. We need more squirrels in Perry Hall. Squirrels and super drug stores - more of them, too.
John Doe
10:53 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
The rumor in the forest is that he lost a 'truth or dare' bet.
Grace B.
12:22 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Actually, a few years ago, we had a power outage that occurred on the same morning of the week, at the exact same time...within 10 or 15 minutes. And, this went on for about a month. They blamed it on squirrels also. I guess that one had a watch.
Marty Warren
4:50 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Squirrels (Shaking my head in disgust)
KILL THEM ALL, LET GOD SORT THEM OUT
Jeanne
1:06 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
What a strong squirrel to be able to do all that. Hope his budies gave him a high five. On the serious side hope everyone got their electricity back real soon.
John Doe
1:32 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Can you imagine the conversation between the investigators?..."What do you think, squirrel or chipmunk?" "Let's go with squirrel, most people despise them and kids love Alvin and the Chipmunks too much."
Paul Amirault
2:45 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Too easy. Squirrel thought transformer was a big nut. Turned out squirrel was the one roasted. Poor bugger.
Kim
2:29 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
What are you people talking about. How could anyone possibly hate a squirrel?? Shouldn't we love and care for all of God's creatures? Anyone who is an animal hater should take a second look at the kind of person that they are!!!
Other Tim
3:03 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Does that include rats, roaches and bedbugs?