What do turkeys have in common with the space shuttle Endeavor, and seagulls, other than being able to fly?
In the past 18 months, they've all caused power outages.
So have snakes, squirrels, seagulls, and a criminal fleeing the police.
One high profile power outage was even caused by a device that was installed specifically to prevent a power outage.
We take power availability for granted, but turns out it's not that easy to keep the lights on.
Eaton Corporation, a power management company, put together a list of strange things that caused power outages in 2012, and we've added a couple of more recent ones to the list.
Space Shuttle Endeavor
October 12, 2012 – Los Angeles, Calif. power authorities shut down power for four hours when the space shuttle Endeavor was making its final land journey through the streets of the city, to its permanent home at the California Science Center.
A bicycle chain
June 17, 2012 – Someone in Mountain View, Calif. through it would be a good idea to celebrate Father's Day by throwing a bicycle chain at some utility equipment. The prank took out power to more than 1,500 customers for close to an hour as power authorities scrambled to figure out what happened.
A wild turkey
April 8, 2012 – Wild turkeys aren't known for their flying skills.
This became clear to people in Sonoma County, Calif. after a turkey accidentally flew into some power lines and was immediately transformed into Thanksgiving dinner.
The unfortunate bird's mishap took down the regional emergency 911 dispatch system and also slowed things down at the county court house and jail the following day.
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