Debate continues to rage about the exact cause of death of the aforementioned squirrel.
While I'm waiting for a conclusive answer from someone who understands how electricity works, here are the only other theories I can come up with:
1. The squirrel committed suicide. It's not impossible. Bad outlook for nuts this winter? The continued bad press? Inferiority complex compared with its red cousins? Perhaps the poor little thing simply decided to end it all.
2. It died of old age while just happening to be on the cables. Again, it's possible. We've no reason to believe it was a young squirrel.
3. It had an identity crisis and mistakenly thought itself to be a lemming.
The things that consume your thoughts on a Sunday morning, Mr Relf…
It's not a squirrel. It's a confused bat with a big tail.
It thought it could make it to safety but alas those pesky wires got in the way!!!
It thought it could make it to safety but alas those pesky wires got in the way!!!
[1] Sad the squirrel went that way. Actually Edison, should be blamed for original sin. He cynically promoted the use of electricity to kill.(please see wiki etc.) Horrific.
[2] As even 100 volts, as used in homes in Japan can kill - not much of a chance at 220 to 240 volts as in Europe or Asia. Of course, there is the current factor.
[3] Maybe 60 volts would not be lethal - but think of the heavy cabling required; not cost effective. Currently (pun unintended) 100 to 240 volts is the norm for indoors and last mile to homes. Long distance transmission has to be at bigger bad voltages. Win some lose some.
[4] At least we can use RCDs. Squirrels and larger birds don't have a chance.
No, retdsparks, it isn't sad that the squirrel died. It is an American invader who has (poss unwittingly) decimated, almost to the point of extinction, our native reds.
There have been recent suggestions of a squirrel cull - I'm all for it. Apparently it tastes like a cross between chicken and rabbit? We eat plenty of other wild game, why not the squirrel?...because it's a bit cuddly?..
I think I'll go and have a lie down...