Two pigeons steal power from 900 Ameren customers

Two pigeons knocked out power for about 900 people Tuesday afternoon, according to Ameren spokesman Brian Bretsch.

Although Bretsch couldn’t say for sure, it is thought that the birds could have been making a nest at a substation in Valmeyer when they got too close to an insulator and were energized.

About 900 people were without power after the incident. Two crews responded at 11:50 a.m., and Ameren plans to get power restored by 5:30 p.m.

No vital services were affected, Bretsch said.