Sneaky snake slithers into substation, knocking out power for downtown Durham

A snake slipped into a substation in east Durham, eventually causing a power outage for thousands in the city.
Posted 5/6/2025, 8:44:51 PM Updated 5/7/2025, 12:58:05 PM

YOU THE LEAGUE.

AND THE INTRUDER GOT INTO A

DURHAM SUBSTATION LAST NIGHT,

KNOCKING OUT POWER TO 10,000

PEOPLE IN THEY DID IT.

>> WITHOUT ANY LEGS, IT WAS

A SNAKE. IT SPAWNED THAT

MASSIVE POWER OUTAGE IN EAST

DURING THAT LASTED FOR ABOUT

2 HOURS. WE'LL TALK TO JEFF

BROOKS WITH DUKE ENERGY SAYS

ANIMALS ARE ONE OF THE TOP 5

REASONS FOR POWER OUTAGES,

ESPECIALLY SQUIRRELS AND

SNAKES.

>> SQUIRRELS, YOU KNOW, THEY

CAN COME FROM THE AIR. THEY CAN

COME DOWN. THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS

THEY CAN GET INTO A SUBSTATION

OR EQUIPMENT. SNAKES CAN ALSO

SQUEEZE AND A VERY TIGHT

LOCATIONS AND GET INTO SMALL

SPACES AND OFTEN WHAT THEY'LL

TRY TO DO IS CRAWL UP INTO

EQUIPMENT WHERE IT'S WARM,

WHERE WHERE THEY CAN GET TO

SOMETHING THERE AFTER MAYBE

A BIRD'S NEST.

>> IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THINGS

WENT TOO WELL FOR THE SNAKE.

BROOKS SAYS WHEN THE STAKES

BODY IS TOUCHING THE GROUND AND

THE EQUIPMENT AT THE SAME TIME,

© WRAL