The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has proposed issuing a permit for the incidental taking of the eastern ribbonsnake, which could result from the White Cliff Road electric project in the village of Egg Harbor.
Project Details
Wisconsin Public Service is proposing to replace 20 overhead electric poles and associated lines in Egg Harbor. The project includes the replacement of four poles within or near suitable wetland habitats. Total disturbances are 40 square feet of temporary impact.
The DNR confirmed the presence of the state endangered eastern ribbonsnake within the vicinity of the project, and that the proposed pole replacement may cause the incidental taking of some snakes. However, the DNR concludes the proposed project likely won’t appreciably reduce the eastern ribbonsnake’s survival or recovery in Wisconsin, nor the habitat it lives in.
Conservation efforts to minimize the adverse effect on the eastern ribbonsnake will be detailed in the proposed incidental take permit and is currently detailed in the jeopardy assessment. Some conservation measures planned include having a permitted environmental monitor onsite, and if snakes are found, safely relocating them to a suitable habitat outside the project area.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
