Squirrels running on power lines in Toronto? The 'evolved' daily life I saw locally

The case of acquiring an aerial walkway called power lines

When I was stopped at a red light in Toronto, I happened to look up at the sky—and there on the power line was a
small black shadow.
The next moment, that shadow started crossing the power line with a smooth, steady motion.
Yes, it was a squirrel. (The one in the photo)
If they cross the road, there are cars. If they run on the grass, there are dogs. Near the trash cans, there are raccoons.
Cities are convenient, but the ground is full of dangers.
Perhaps that is why I feel the squirrels in Toronto have started to master aerial walkways.

Toronto squirrels use power lines as 'highways'

High paths like power lines and fences are often said to be routes that allow squirrels to move while avoiding ground predators and traffic. In fact, the idea that animals successfully use man-made objects like roads, buildings, and power lines to survive is often covered in scientific contexts as well.
Moreover, power lines are the shortest route connecting tree to tree and roof to roof.
To humans, they are just infrastructure, but to them, they are shortcuts above the city.

But power lines are dangerous

Here is a simple question. 'Don't they get electrocuted?'
Basically, it is said that squirrels are unlikely to become a path for electricity (i.e., unlikely to be electrocuted) unless they touch different potentials (for example, two wires) at the same time. However, depending on the location of the equipment and how they make contact, accidents can happen. There is also talk that they can cause power outages, to the extent that power companies install squirrel-proofing devices.
Compared to Japan, Canada has quite frequent power outages. Could it be the influence of the squirrels...?
In other words, that aerial walkway is convenient, but it is actually a tightrope walk.
The fact that they still cross it shows just how risky the ground is.

Crossing the road = The reality of the city where it's a life-or-death situation

Not limited to Toronto, in urban areas of North America, accidents involving animals being hit by cars are a problem.
I often see sad scenes involving raccoons, but it's the same for squirrels.
That's why, when I see a squirrel walking on a power line, I can't help but think to myself:
'These guys are too adapted to the city. They are evolving (I feel like). '
There are really so many squirrels that get hit, and I think perhaps only the genes of the squirrels that survived by crossing the power lines remain. ← I actually think this quite seriously
Of course, rather than biological evolution, I mean it in the sense that their urban living skills are improving.

Note:
If you see a wild animal that has passed away on the roadside, please contact 311.
For highways and toll roads, please tweet to @511ontario.

Every single moment is the fun of daily life in Toronto

Sightseeing tends to end with visiting 'famous spots' like the CN Tower or Niagara Falls.
But Toronto is a city with an incredible amount of these little daily tidbits.

・Squirrels crossing power lines
・Raccoons in the back alleys
・The super tough Canada geese in the park
・The air along the lake on a winter morning when no one is around
If you can pick up on moments like these, your trip suddenly becomes 'your own Toronto'.

The value of a trip is in 'episodes' rather than 'famous sights'

You can usually take photos if you go to famous spots.
But what remains in your travel memories are these unexpected moments.
A squirrel that stops on a power line, looks at you, and starts crossing again.
In that moment, I grew to like the city of Toronto just a little bit more.

And, a trip to go pick up those 'personal episodes' is actually difficult to do alone.
The places to go, the routes to walk, the time of day, the season, and a little bit of intuition for safety.
When those come together, the depth of the experience changes even in the same city.

Lastly: Why not create a Toronto worth talking about together on a TorontoKiKi tour?

At TorontoKiKi, we don't just do sightseeing tours;
we build travel routes that include 'local daily life,' 'moments that make for great photos,' and 'little stories you'll want to tell people.'

I think it's also a great fit for those who want to increase experiences that become articles while staying in Toronto. If you are interested,

please click here↓