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Wild Electric-type Pokemon such as Pikachu, Magneton, and Electabuzz are naturally drawn to areas such as power plants, cell phone towers, and overhead power lines due to the high amount of electricity in these areas. While there is an implicit understanding among most of them that they are encroaching on human territory and the humans who live and work there are not to be disturbed, the same cannot be said for Zapdos. Wild Zapdos are extremely aggressive, territorial, and have a nasty habit of claiming these areas as their own and taking them hostage, attempting to maim or electrocute anyone - human or Pokemon - who gets too close.
Because of this, power companies will sometimes contact trainers with powerful Rock or Ground-type Pokemon like Golem, Rhyperior, and Garchomp to literally beat these Zapdos into submission in hopes of driving them off. While this works in about 72% of cases, "repeat offenders" are common, and if a Zapdos returns to the same area three times, the power companies are legally authorized to kill them.
Because of this, their numbers are dwindling far more than the other legendary birds, and there are even calls to deliberately drive Zapdos to extinction due to the enormous threat they pose to humans and Pokemon alike. Where you stand on the Zapdos problem - conservation or extermination - is a hot-button political issue worldwide.
