Residents of Cambria, California, have experienced a series of disruptive power outages this summer, with the unusual culprit identified as wild turkeys. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has confirmed that six such incidents have occurred since mid-July, each causing short-lived power interruptions.
The outages, typically happening during daylight hours and lasting about an hour, have affected daily routines, including preparations for work and the operation of medical equipment. Local businesses have also faced disruptions during critical operating hours.
Initial investigations by PG&E pointed to an "animal contacted the powerline." Further confirmation revealed that wild turkeys were responsible for the outages. According to PG&E regional communications representative Stephanie Magallon, the birds can create an electrical hazard by perching on power lines.
"When they take off, the push from their weight causes the lines to swing and come into contact with one another," Magallon explained. "When that occurs, our enhanced powerline safety settings (EPSS) detect the hazard and automatically shut off power to prevent an ignition."
These enhanced safety settings are particularly crucial in areas like California's North Coast, where power infrastructure traverses regions with elevated wildfire risks. The EPSS are designed to shut off power within one-tenth of a second of detecting a hazard, such as animal or tree branch contact, to prevent fires.
In response to the recurring issue, PG&E crews have worked to modify the affected power lines. The utility reported that crews have increased the space between the wires to reduce the likelihood of them touching when a turkey lands or takes off.
Residents have noted an increasing population of wild turkeys in the coastal community, with flocks often roosting in trees near electrical lines. While turkeys can fly, their landings and takeoffs can sometimes lead to accidental contact with power infrastructure. Younger birds that have recently fledged may be more prone to misjudging distances.
This is not the first time turkeys have been implicated in Cambria's power issues. A 2021 outage was reportedly linked to a turkey striking a power line, though PG&E did not confirm the cause at the time. Despite these electrical challenges, Cambria has been recognized as a desirable travel destination, recently named one of the top weekend escapes on the West Coast.
"We understand these outages have been frustrating for customers, and we appreciate the community’s patience while we worked to identify and address the cause," Magallon stated.