Environmental Stewardship
Indiana Co-op Program Saves Wildlife
Usually, it’s not good news if wildlife needs a new home. But thanks to an Indiana electric cooperative, it’s a positive development for hawks, owls, bats and bluebirds living on the grounds of a youth camp in its service area.
Worker Andy Bare returns to the ground after installing one of 11 bat boxes at a camp. (Photo By: Maura Giles)
The 250-acre camp was the site of the latest wildlife preservation efforts by South Central Indiana REMC, Martinsville. Co-op personnel installed several hawk platforms, owl and bluebird boxes, and bat colony nesting sites at Camp Rancho Framasa in Nashville, Ind.
“It was an interesting situation. We installed two bat nesting colonies nearby, so the bats can have a home, and the camp can use their shelter,” which had been overrun by the flying mammals, said Maura Giles, manager of cooperative relations.
This year, the co-op expanded its preservation efforts, called “Energy for Wildlife,” to help raptors in its service area, as well as wildlife residing at the camp. Lineworkers and personnel from the vegetation management department use recycled crossarms and poles to build the perches and platforms.
“It’s hard for property owners to provide nesting platforms and owl boxes because of their height,” Giles explained, noting that platforms and poles typically reach 65 feet.
“A lot of raptors like to build nests on electric lines, and because they have such large wingspans, they can be electrocuted because their wings are touching multiple lines.”
Camp officials are happy to reclaim the shelter and to add a new dimension to their programming.
The co-op’s field crew builds a nesting colony out of several bat boxes. (Photo By: Maura Giles)
“Not only will the native animals benefit, but the visitors that come here will also learn more about these animals, their habits and habitats,” said Kevin Sullivan, director of camping services.
South Central Indiana REMC is the second utility in the nation—and the first co-op—to start an Energy for Wildlife Program certified by the National Wild Turkey Federation, according to Giles.
To date, the co-op has installed more than 500 boxes, platforms and perches in wooded areas throughout its service area. Field crews also have planted dozens of wildlife food plots.
Wildlife protection and electric utilities is “a common issue, and we wanted to be proactive and help animals while we’re helping our membership,” Giles said.
A slide show of the Camp Rancho Framasa project can be seen on the co-op’s YouTube channel.