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Raccoon in Rochester knocks out power to thousands

By
Published  March 27, 2025 5:17pm CDT
Rochester
FOX 9

Raccoon knocks out power to thousands in Rochester

A raccoon in Rochester took out power to thousands after getting into a transformer. The raccoon survived.

The Brief

    • A raccoon in Rochester knocked out power to more than 2,000 customers early Wednesday morning.
    • The raccoon got curious and came into contact with a transformer.
    • Power was restored quickly, and somehow, the raccoon survived and will make a full recovery.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (FOX 9) - A raccoon in Rochester wreaked havoc on the northeast side of the city early Wednesday morning after knocking out power to thousands while most people were sleeping.

What happened

The backstory:

City officials say a large raccoon somehow snuck their way into a transformer and did enough damage to knock out power in the area. Officials acted quickly and got power back on within an hour.

Raccoon survives

What we don't know:

Animals don’t typically handle electricity well, but this raccoon not only survived, but is expected to make a full recovery.

‘Steer clear of our equipment’

What they're saying:

Rochester Public Utilities posted about the raccoon to social media, saying, "To our furry friend: wishing you a full recovery… and please, steer clear of our equipment next time!"

The Source: Rochester city officials and Rochester Public Utilities shared the information in a Facebook post.

RochesterMinnesota