In my career, I’ve been privileged to work alongside some outstanding people at Colorado Springs Utilities. Our employees display their commitment to our community through their dedication to our customers and their desire to protect what make Colorado Springs special – such as its local wildlife.
On April 27, members of our electric substation team were conducting a routine assessment of our Cottonwood Substation when they found two abandoned baby Great Horned Owls on the ground hiding behind equipment.
They knew the baby owls would not survive without intervention. They contacted their supervisor and our environmental team to coordinate a rescue with the help of a licensed raptor handler.
Within a matter of hours, the baby owls were on their way to a raptor rehabilitation center in Pueblo, Colo. They will remain at the center under expert care until they are old enough to be released back into the wild.
As heart-tugging as such a rescue is, it is an example of how our electric substation employees protect wildlife from electrical equipment.
A couple of months ago, we shared a story about how this team uses innovative laser technology to redirect owls and other wildlife away from substation equipment. Technology like this protects wildlife from electrocution while also preserving system reliability for customers.