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Wildlife Protection
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We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our state’s wildlife and environment. This is something we work on year-round through our Avian & Wildlife Protection Program.
Overview
We are committed to providing reliable and safe electrical service while maintaining a healthy environment for our state. Our Avian & Wildlife Protection Program helps us to ensure the safety of Arizona wildlife, especially raptors (large birds of prey) which are at greater risk of coming into contact with two energized lines at once due to their larger wingspans.
We rely on a variety of protective devices such as insulations, protective coatings and line markers on our electrical systems to protect these birds, but this is just the first step we take in ensuring their safety.
We also work hand-in-hand with local rehabilitation centers to make sure any injured birds or nests are properly cared for and in an environment that is safe for them. If you have questions or concerns about wildlife interacting with APS facilities, please report your concerns to our Customer Care Center or contact local wildlife rehabilitation centers: For other state-wide wildlife rehab resources, please see the following information to find a local wildlife rehab:
We rely on a variety of protective devices such as insulations, protective coatings and line markers on our electrical systems to protect these birds, but this is just the first step we take in ensuring their safety.
We also work hand-in-hand with local rehabilitation centers to make sure any injured birds or nests are properly cared for and in an environment that is safe for them. If you have questions or concerns about wildlife interacting with APS facilities, please report your concerns to our Customer Care Center or contact local wildlife rehabilitation centers: For other state-wide wildlife rehab resources, please see the following information to find a local wildlife rehab:
How You can Help
If you find an injured bird or nest on or near a power line:
- Call us immediately at 602-371-7171 to report your finding, or live chat any time between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays. Our Customer Care Representatives are trained in taking reports of wildlife issues near our equipment or at our facilities.
- Provide helpful information such as the pole number, nearby address or GPS coordinates to help us find the injured animal.
- Please, for your safety, do not attempt to assist trapped or injured wildlife on or near our equipment.
- In addition to contacting us, you may also contact local wildlife rehabilitation centers familiar with our program.
- Make poles seem less appealing to raptors for perching by removing any waste disposal storage containers, such as trash cans and compost piles that are located near poles or other electric facilities.
- Consult with APS about poles located near small livestock and poultry enclosures. We will try to determine if the pole is able to have additional protection mitigations to deter perching on pole equipment.
Partnerships and Memberships
Working Together
Building and maintaining relationships with various wildlife conservation organizations strengthen the APS Avian & Wildlife Protection Program. We work closely with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation, and other utilities to ensure the safety and well-being of wildlife across our state.
Memberships
We are also a member of the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC), most recently assisting in the 2020 revision of APLIC’s Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines. We also participate in the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture’s Tree Care for Birds Training which provides certified arborist training in how to avoid harming federally protected birds nesting in trees. Additional memberships include:
Building and maintaining relationships with various wildlife conservation organizations strengthen the APS Avian & Wildlife Protection Program. We work closely with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation, and other utilities to ensure the safety and well-being of wildlife across our state.
Memberships
We are also a member of the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC), most recently assisting in the 2020 revision of APLIC’s Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines. We also participate in the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture’s Tree Care for Birds Training which provides certified arborist training in how to avoid harming federally protected birds nesting in trees. Additional memberships include:
How We are Being Environmentally Conscious
We work hard to protect Arizona’s natural resources by using integrated vegetation techniques and keeping wildlife and rare plant protection programs top of mind.
Learn More
Protecting Arizona's Pollinators
Arizona is an important stop for pollinating insects on their annual migration. Across the thousands of acres of land in our service territory, we practice integrated vegetation management to encourage biodiversity
and protect the habitats of the butterflies, bees and numerous other pollinators that are so crucial to our ecosystem.
Managing Vegetation Around Electricity
Your safety and the safety of those in your community is of the utmost importance. We want to work with you to make sure that the trees, shrubs and other greenery on your property are safe around any of the electrical equipment on or near your property.
How to be Safe around Energy
Safety around energy is critical to everyone within our state and communities.
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