California Residents Mystified by 'Inexplicable' Exploding Birds Epidemic, While Authorities Suggest Foul Play
Residents in the Richmond Bay Area community of Richmond, California, have reported multiple birds found dead, suggesting that they were exploding
While many witnesses believe the animals were electrocuted after a security camera captured one falling from a power line, officials reportedly concluded that the injuries were similar to those from a BB gun, pellet gun, or slingshot gun
The cause of the injuries is yet to be finally determined, with investigations still ongoing
Residents of a neighborhood in the Bay Area community of Richmond, northeast of San Francisco, have reported cases of exploding birds, according to multiple outlets, including ABC News.
ABC News notes that many birds have been found deceased on the street in the Bay Area, with one filmed fatally dropping from a power line following a pop sound. Newsweek notes that over 50 birds have been found dead.
Per ABC7News, resident Maximilian Bolling said. "It's very traumatic," while neighbor Heather Jones added, "It's a mystery -- that's how we all feel. It's inexplicable."
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that officers were called to the 6100 block of Bernhard Avenue on April 26 after a report that 'multiple birds were possibly electrocuted when they landed on a power line," according to the outlet.
"On Saturday, April 26, 2025, at about 5:00 pm, Contra Costa deputy sheriffs were dispatched to the 6100 block of Bernhard Avenue in unincorporated Richmond for a report of a suspicious circumstance,' the statement read. 'A resident reported multiple birds were possibly electrocuted when they landed on a power line.'
PEOPLE has contacted the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
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However, according to ABC News, officials have hinted at foul play after releasing the necropsy results of two deceased birds.
The outlet reports that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Wildlife Health Lab concluded that a deceased mourning dove and European starling had injuries that were similar to wounds from BB guns, pellet guns, or slingshot guns, rather than injuries from power lines though the cause of the deaths is yet the be finally determined.
The Pacific Gas & Electric Company also reportedly claimed that there was no evidence that the fatalities were caused by electrocution.
"We appreciate the concern of our customers in Richmond about the recent series of bird deaths. We have asked the California Department of Fish & Wildlife to evaluate several of the bird corpses," Pacific Gas & Electric Company said in a statement, per ABC7. They also shared that the birds show no evidence of electrocution, and that their deaths appeared to be caused by trauma, potentially from a pellet or BB gun, or a slingshot.
They added, "PG&E does not believe that there was an issue with our electrical equipment and agrees that these birds were not electrocuted. Neighbors have asked the Contra County Sheriff's Office to look into this situation. The pole at issue is compliant with avian safe standards, as established by the Avian Powerline Interaction Committee."
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Witness Mark Hoehner told ABC7News that the phenomenon 'sounded like a firecracker," and a "black bird-a starling-just plummeted to the ground" after the noise.
"I've been under the birds when it happens, and I know where the sound is coming from. It's coming from up on the pole,' he added.
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