Two playful squirrels caused power outages in two states Monday, affecting more than 1,500 customers and interrupting supply for nearly an hour.

Squirrels are the leading causes of outages in the United States, next only to severe weather. Thus, power companies make it a point that these curious animals either do not come in contact with the lines or have no way of entering their facilities.

"We kind of liken it to anyone who's had a bird feeder and tried to keep the squirrels out. They find a way," said Brian Elwood, a spokesman for Xcel Energy. Xcel, which operates the Wisconsin utility, restored the service to 177 customers in less than an hour.

The repair crew found the remains of the squirrel that caused the lines to trip.

About 1,400 customers in Ironwood, Michigan, about 64 kilometers from Ashland, were also left without power on Monday after another squirrel got into a substation.

A worker at the city's Enterprise Center was stuck in an elevator when the power went out.

Rodney Johnson, a claustrophobic, thought he could not make it to Thanksgiving but firefighters were able to get him out just in time.