J.K. Rowling Has Everyone Sharing Stories Of When Animals Messed Up Their Lives
By Aimee LutkinUpdated Nov. 18 2019, 2:38 p.m. ET
Twitter Queen J.K. Rowling must have been taking a break from writing the next straight to film book series when she came across this interesting fact about the Hadron Collider, which was brought to its knees by the body of a small weasel. It inspired her to share a little story of when he own plans were derailed by an animal crossing paths with a human creation.
She wrote, "I couldn't email my editor final changes on The Casual Vacancy from South Africa, because an aardvark had chewed through a power line. Nobody ever believes this. I think he struggled, too (the editor, not the aardvark)."
In April 2016, the Large Hadron Collider was shut down after a weasel fell into it.
— Quite Interesting (@qikipedia) March 22, 2018I couldn't email my editor final changes on The Casual Vacancy from South Africa, because an aardvark had chewed through a power line. Nobody ever believes this. I think he struggled, too (the editor, not the aardvark). https://t.co/baKw9uJ6gj
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 22, 2018No one believe an aardvark, that has barely any teeth, chewed through a wire/ Ah, well! Her fans believe her, probably because a lot of them have their own unlikely animal stories to share also. Like this one person who had their cord chewed through by a rabbit.
Or another person who blames their inability to work on geese. Yes, geese.
"In Brisbane, Australia, air conditioners and similar devices routinely shorted out by invading geckos in search of cosy, secure nests," wrote another user.
Coincidentally, I #amwriting, and just had my cord chewed through by a rabbit.
— Andrea Gabriel (@Andrea_Gabriel_) March 22, 2018There were multiple occasions where we couldn’t launch response boats because the launches were too crowded with geese. https://t.co/DzkKdl0LFK
— Myke Cole (@MykeCole) March 22, 2018In Brisbane, Australia, air conditioners and similar devices routinely shorted out by invading geckos in search of cosy, secure nests.
— Terry Sweetman (@Terrytoo69) March 22, 2018Squirrels ate ALL the wires to my Christmas light display this Winter! I believe you! pic.twitter.com/TuVlRaJ3n2
— BabyBlueEyes (@BlueCatInTheSky) March 22, 2018Why do so many animals think wires are tasty?
One person wrote, "My train was once delayed because of a badger in the junction box at Purley."
My train was once delayed because of a badger in the junction box at Purley
— Geoffrey (@Gil21christ) March 22, 2018We had no telephone at our farm for almost a week after an over zealous wombat charged at and destroyed the exchange at the top of our road. https://t.co/9NYJgFRvsd
— Caro Webster (@caroandcoau) March 22, 2018I had to call an electrician on a Saturday night after 9 because a squirrel chewed through a power line that powered our walk in freezer where I was working. It was a nightmare.
— Stephanie (@princessofhe) March 22, 2018Tasty, tasty wires!
But domestic animals who eat kibble are a problem around the house, too.
I had trouble working from home because Meepers wouldn’t get off my laptop. Animals and work man. pic.twitter.com/0uQNe3hgSb
— Jess (@dochaseve) March 22, 2018I love that this as an excuse from a teacher:
One of my classmates got a free A on his homework assignment because the teacher's dog pulled it out of her bag and ate it before she could grade it.
— Name Goes Here (@NightmareWaffle) March 22, 2018But it really happens!
I once had to ring my daughter’s school and explain that my dog actually did eat her homework. pic.twitter.com/sBQC0rQbvl
— 🌞 Rowan Coleman 🌞 (@rowancoleman) March 23, 2018Don't forget the real culprits—rodents absolutely gorging themselves on a wire buffet.
At my school we lost WiFi for a couple months because someone trapped and relocated the feral cats — thus the mice enjoyed a feast on wires for the WiFi. Try explaining that to parents at the school. Smh
— monilynn (@teachermon00) March 23, 2018In my time at Reading University a hall porter (called Martin) couldn't believe that I used to have problems starting my car in Germany after a marten had chewed through a cable.
They don't exist on the British Isles and he thought I was pulling his leg with the similar name.
— Sprachverwirrung (@13sisu) March 23, 2018We’ve had month of trouble with rodents in the roof. They even took 130 packets of mayonnaise and the actual mouse trap into the loft. We think they died of a mayonnaise induced coronary
— The Baaarmy Sheep (@BaaarmyThe) March 23, 2018We live in Daylesford Australia and have just lost our phone and internet service because a cockatoo chewed through the wire. I sympathize with you!
— Sarah Morton (@sarahmortonadam) March 23, 2018The Venezuelan government has said several times that the power outages are caused by Iguanas, monkeys and birds chewing on power lines.
I don’t know how in the world I didn’t thought of using that excuse for skipping work hahahahaha.
— Francesc Arteaga (@Arteaga137) March 23, 2018After reading some of these, though, wire chewing is preferable to other animal interferences:
My parents once got a letter apologising for a lengthy power cut after a bull 'got amorous' with the electricity pole. I wanted to frame it (the letter not the bull).
— Becster (@wootcanaw) March 23, 2018A woodpecker delayed one of the space shuttle launches by pecking at the heat-resisting tiles.
— Jenny McPheat (@mcpheat_jenny) March 23, 2018I was once late for a meeting with my class in South Africa because a group of 4 monkeys essentially trapped me in my room. But I’m always late, so no one ever believes me about that either they say it’s the “best excuse” I’ve ever come up with 😞 #ithappened! Animals are sneaky!
— Kahlixo Originals (@SummerRayxxx) March 23, 2018Who knows what these stories will inspire Rowling to write next.
Fantastic beasts and where they turn off the power
— Animais Fantásticos Brasil (@AFEOHBr) March 22, 2018Not that she needs the inspo.
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