In 2023, raccoons were responsible for more than a dozen power outages in Toronto

The raccoon that caused widespread power outages in downtown Toronto last week wasn't the first to leave residents in the dark.

Raccoons were behind 13 blackouts in Toronto last year, according to data provided by the city's electricity distributor.

On average, those outages were safely restored within 80 minutes, Toronto Hydro said.

However, interactions can be dangerous for both residents and raccoons. Thursday's outage knocked out power to more than 7,000 customers downtown, stopped elevators in high-rise buildings and blacked out traffic lights at some of the city's busiest intersections. The raccoon responsible for the shutdown was found dead after interacting with equipment at the Toronto Hydro building.

In a statement to CTV News, Toronto Hydro said it is taking preventative measures to help reduce issues related to animal contact with its system.

“This work includes periodic patrols of feedlots and other equipment to ensure that any signs of animal trespass are removed, as well as installing animal guards and fencing around equipment that may come into contact with animals,” the statement said.

While the company says it's not possible to “completely animal-proof our distribution system,” the measures “keep wildlife and power on.”

After Thursday's outage, Tiziana Bacchega Rosa, a spokeswoman for electricity supplier Hydro One, said the company takes these incidents “very seriously” and is considering additional measures to prevent them from happening again.

Baccega Rosa also pointed to the utility's efforts to protect the animals, including elevated platforms to discourage ospreys from nesting on top of power poles. Preventing animal-related outages at power plants can look like building a fence around certain equipment, he said.

With Canadian Press files.