The Squirrel Saga

Eudora's most famous (furry) residents

Every town has a running joke. Ours has a bushy tail. Here's the affectionate, mostly true story of Eudora and its power-line-loving squirrels.

How it started

Squirrels love trees. Eudora has a lot of trees. And between the trees run power lines, which, to a squirrel, look a lot like a very convenient highway.

Every so often a curious squirrel takes a wrong turn, the lights blink, and somewhere in town someone says the magic word: "Squirrel." It happens often enough that it's become a local tradition to blame (and secretly admire) our furry neighbors.

Eudora isn't alone, either. Across the country, squirrels are one of the most common causes of small power outages. We just happen to be the town that decided to have fun with it.

In the news · October 17, 2025

"Squirrel causes power issues"

One Friday morning last October, the lights around town gave a blink. City crews walked the power lines and tracked down the squirrel responsible near Ninth and Acorn. (Yes, really. Acorn.)

“This time of year is when we experience more small wildlife interruptions to power.”Zack Daniel, City Manager

Read the story at the Eudora Times ↗

(Sorry about the corner. —Amp)

Squirrel Training Academy

Are you a squirrel? Practice your skills here. Every flip earns you a higher rank. (Don't worry, the lights always come right back on. Our line crew never misses.)

0
Practice flips
Acorn Rookie
Your squirrel rank

Meet the usual suspects

Wanted for questioning. Also wanted for being adorable. (All characters are fictional. Any resemblance to an actual squirrel is purely coincidental.)

Sparky the squirrelRingleader

Sparky

Claims he was "just checking the wiring." Has never once checked the wiring.

Wattson the squirrelBrains

Wattson

Reads up on electrical engineering. Mostly the parts with pictures of acorns.

Volta the squirrelGetaway driver

Volta

Fastest tail in Douglas County. Nobody has ever gotten a clear photo.

Amp the squirrelThe new kid

Amp

Just here for the acorns. Honestly confused about the whole power thing.

A squirrel sitting in the driver's seat of a silver semi truck, paws on the steering wheel, cruising down the highway
Update: someone finally got a clear photo. Volta, spotted on the highway and clearly late for something. We have so many questions, starting with who signed off on that CDL.

Three cheers for the line crews

👷

The real heroes

Whenever the squirrels strike, line workers head out in all kinds of weather to get things running again. Next time you see a bucket truck, give a wave.

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Stay safe

The joke is the squirrels, never the power lines. If you see a downed line, stay well away and call your electric provider or 911 right away.

🌰

Be a good neighbor

Keep tree limbs trimmed back from service lines (call a pro for anything near wires) and keep bird feeders away from poles.