CONCORD, N.C. — A snake caused a major power outage this week.
It wandered into a Concord substation which started a fire and knocked out power to 8,000 customers.
Channel 9 covered two similar cases last year.
Both were in Rock Hill and, both times, black snakes slithered into substations and left 6,000 customers in the dark.
Duke Energy said it has had cases too.
Spokesperson Meghan Musgrave Miles said snakes cause power outages about 100 times each year in its six states.
Miles said Duke Energy is taking steps to block the reptiles from knocking out electricity.
The utility is retrofitting 400,000 transformers with special fences and even electric ones to keep animals out.
It's all part of a $3.5 billion makeover over the next 10 years.
Many are surprised this is even an issue.
"I didn't know that snakes could cause things to catch on fire," Amy Kelly said.
Firefighters are aware of fires being caused by snakes and varmints getting into transformers and substations.
"All kind of critters and varmints can get in those transformers and substations,” said Cherryville Fire Chief Jeff Cash.
Discovery Place expert Marvin Bouknight said it makes sense.
"They're trying to find their own little habit and their own area to live and they're looking for food,” Bouknight said.
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