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Eagle strike takes out power in Oak Bay

Bird strikes rare on south Island, says BC Hydro
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Crews repair two main two main power lines that an eagle hit on Monday afternoon. The eagle died from the collision and it knocked out power to 1,500 people in Oak Bay. (Reader photo)

A mature bald eagle is dead after it collided with a power pole and power lines near Windsor Park on Monday afternoon.

It was all hands on deck as BC Hydro rushed to repair the live wires which fell on a landscaper’s truck. Oak Bay fire and police controlled the intersection. And nearly 1,500 residents were without power.

Crews were on site as of 2:45 p.m. in a bid to restore power to those living south of Bowker Place, north of Beach Drive and east of Hampshire Road.

The outage was caused by an eagle which died, catastrophically, when it hit the main lines near the intersection of Newport and Currie roads beside Windsor Park.

“The eagle had entry wounds and exit wounds from the incident electrical current,” said Oak Bay assistant fire chief Cam Thomson.

BC Hydro spokesperson Ted Olynyk says bird strikes are rare south of Campbell River.

“North of Campbell River it happens, because there’s a lot of fish [packing], or by landfills, where eagles are busy. People I’ve talked to don’t recall it happening in Oak Bay. It’s extremely rare.”

There are pole covers and diverters that protect birds and keep them off power poles but are unlikely to be installed in Greater Victoria as bird strikes are rare.

READ ALSO: The eagle has landed



c.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

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