Power line corridors are home not only to critical infrastructure that delivers safe, reliable electricity to millions of customers across the region, they also provide valuable habitats where native plants, pollinators, and hundreds of wildlife species thrive. As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship and biodiversity, Eversource’s vegetation management team has created a new resource to help customers learn about some of the diverse creatures that inhabit the company’s rights-of-way in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
On the Move: A Guide to Herptiles in Our Power Line Corridors highlights 20 reptiles and amphibians that call these passageways home, from snakes and snapping turtles to spotted salamanders.
“Our vegetation management team maintains more than 3,500 miles of power line corridors throughout New England, crossing diverse terrain from forests to wetlands,” said Sean Redding, Eversource Director of Vegetation Management. “We use industry best practices to support low-growth habitats in our rights-of-way, which are essential for many herptiles and other species of animals, plants, and insects to flourish. Our dedicated arborists are passionate about caring for these habitats, and we strive to be good neighbors by protecting local ecosystems while ensuring the delivery of safe, reliable power to our customers.”
New England is heavily forested, and while trees are a cherished part of the region’s landscape, they are also the leading cause of power outages during storms. As part of its thoughtful and comprehensive vegetation management program, Eversource’s certified arborists work during specific times of year and use specialized equipment to minimize environmental impact while completing critical maintenance that ensures electrical reliability and public safety.
This new educational resource celebrating biodiversity within Eversource’s rights-of-way is the result of a unique collaboration with award-winning New Hampshire wildlife artist Matt Patterson. His vivid illustrations bring the guide to life, showcasing the herptiles featured throughout. Patterson, a member of Artists for Conservation and a Fellow of The Explorers Club, has illustrated several books, including the New York Times bestseller Of Time and Turtles and The Book of Turtles, both authored by Sy Montgomery.
“Reptiles and amphibians are some of the most varied, beautiful, and resilient animals on Earth,” said Patterson. “They’ve been around for hundreds of millions of years and form the foundation of many ecosystems. Yet they are among the most endangered and threatened species. Learning about and protecting them offers an important opportunity to support the health of our planet.”
To learn more about Eversource’s vegetation management programs, visit Eversource.com. Customers can also download a free copy of the herptiles guide and explore other illustrated resources, including Pollinator Roadmap and Nature’s Natives—a guide to landscaping with New England’s native plants.