Careless Osprey Accidentally Drops Fish, Sparks Fire and Power Outage in a Canadian Town
In Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada, an osprey's lunchtime snack took an unexpected turn, leading to a brush fire and power outage. On July 30, around noon local time, fire crews, road crew members, and workers from the local power company were dispatched to a landscape fire[1][2][3].
The incident began when the osprey, while flying over a lake in northern Finland, caught a fish. However, it seems the bird was unable to hold onto its lunch for long. The fish was dropped onto power lines, causing sparks[1][2]. These sparks ignited a brush fire and led to a power outage in the area[1][2][3].
Officials are skeptical about the theory that ospreys are intentionally dropping fish. It is more likely that the bird dropped the fish due to fatigue from the heat or an accident while flying[1][2]. Some have jokingly suggested the bird might have wanted its fish to be "cooked" instead of raw[1][2].
This incident is unusual as the power line was more than a mile from the nearest body of water. Ospreys typically catch fish to carry them away directly to a nest or eating spot[1][2]. The fish was charred by the fire, but the osprey sustained no injury[1][2].
Dry conditions and the presence of power lines create a risk where a dropped fish could cause sparks and start fires, especially during hot weather when birds like ospreys are active fishing[1][2][3]. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, but no prior context was provided regarding the osprey or its usual habits[1][2].
Despite the efforts of the fire crews, who used 4,800 gallons of water to put out the fire, no information was given about the resolution of the power outage or the fire[1][2][3]. However, this incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of power lines and the importance of caution when birds of prey are in the vicinity.
[1] ABC News. (2021, August 2). Osprey's dropped fish sparks fire in British Columbia. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/osprey-dropped-fish-sparks-fire-british-columbia/story?id=78852518
[2] CBC News. (2021, July 30). Osprey's dropped fish sparks fire in Ashcroft, B.C. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/osprey-dropped-fish-sparks-fire-ashcroft-1.6125187
[3] The Guardian. (2021, July 31). Osprey drops fish onto power lines, causing brush fire in British Columbia. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/31/osprey-drops-fish-onto-power-lines-causing-brush-fire-in-british-columbia
The osprey's fish dropped on a power line in northern Finland could potentially be a risk in environmental-science studies, as dry conditions and power lines increase the possibility of sparks causing brush fires, especially during hot weather when birds like ospreys are active. This incident highlights the importance of sportsmanship and caution when interacting with birds of prey, considering the potential dangers of power lines.
