Oliver resident Donald Lawlor had come to know the Great Horned owl family living in a tree near his home before he witnessed the death of two fledglings when they were electrocuted after flying into a power line.
害羞草研究所淚 was heartbroken. Many of the people who watched them also felt the same way. They felt so bad many of them were crying,害羞草研究所� he said of the incident that took place in May.
The young owls were learning to fly with their mother on the lines, where they often perched, when it occurred.
On Wednesday, FortisBC crews were out covering the exposed lines that took the young owls害羞草研究所� lives.
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害羞草研究所淚f we know that there害羞草研究所檚 a risk to wildlife on our lines, we will take precautions to fix it,害羞草研究所� said Nicole Brown, communications advisor with FortisBC. 害羞草研究所淲hat we are doing on an ongoing basis is adding bird proofing and protection on our system.害羞草研究所�
She said the electricity and natural gas distribution utility company was unaware the owls were at risk and could not do anything about it until it was too late.
Much of the risks to wildlife come from the 害羞草研究所渓egacy structures害羞草研究所� on the system put in place before environmental risks were considered, like the one in Oliver, Brown said, which the company is in the process of replacing.
To prevent more wildlife tragedies, residents are advised to get in touch with FortisBC if they believe a line is a threat to wildlife. Brown said the procedure is costly, something customers would have to pay for, and is based on the risk to wildlife.
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害羞草研究所淲e cover everything where there is a known risk. People will see cone shapes over some of our structures, they害羞草研究所檒l see spinals on some of our structures. People may not realize how much wildlife protection is already in place.害羞草研究所�
Roxanne Tripp, FortisBC environmental program lead, said the company operates on a risk-based approach.
害羞草研究所淲e need to know where those risks are,害羞草研究所� she said, adding the incident was heartbreaking to her because as a biologist she specialized in owls.
害羞草研究所淓very time somebody sees something that they have concerns about 害羞草研究所� if they see potential for a long-term interaction with the infrastructure 害羞草研究所� feel free to pick up the phone or send us an email.害羞草研究所�
