Long-Distance Lines Fall Victim To Beaver

A beaver bit through a cable near Elliston and interrupted the long-distance service of some western Montana telephone customers, US West Communications said Saturday.

Long-distance service was reported out in certain locations at about 5:40 a.m. on Saturday and was restored by 2:50 p.m. said Russ Cravens, a US West spokesman in Helena.

Those affected included US West customers in Butte, Helena, Missoula and Great Falls, he said. Northwestern Montana customers of PTI Communications, which ties in with the US West system, also were affected.

Lottery ticket sales that rely on the US West system came to a standstill.

Cravens said the fiber cable is buried in places but also passes through a marshy area, which is where the beaver bit into it.