MISSOULA – A beaver is to blame for knocking out power to more than 7,000 customers in the Bitterroot Valley and Missoula areas.
Northwestern Energy spokeswoman Claudia Rapkoch says the beaver was gnawing on a cottonwood tree south of Missoula at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. The tree fell on a power line, cutting the electricity. Rapkoch also says a piece of equipment failed at a substation, causing a power line to melt.
About 5,400 customers in the south Missoula area were without power, along with about 2,000 customers in the Bitterroot Valley.
Rapkoch says power was restored to all customers by noon.