California is home to a diverse array of species, and our utility does its part to help protect them as it builds, upgrades, and maintains electricity grid infrastructure. In fact, a team of Southern California Edison (SCE) biologists is engaged to do a complete environmental assessment to help identify and mitigate potential impacts to biological resources. Across Edison International, we're committed to protecting the environment everywhere we operate.
Keeping Reptiles & Amphibians Safe
Our utility continues to expand and upgrade its infrastructure to meet the growing need for power. Thanks to the insights and commitment of our staff biologists, we are able to ensure the safety of native snakes, lizards, frogs and other reptiles and amphibians, while preserving their native ecosystems.
Interested in learning more? Visit Herpetology World, our virtual theme park with attractions such as Protect That Critter and the Weird World of the Ectothermic.
Protecting Endangered Desert Tortoises
Once plentiful in California, the desert tortoise — Gopherus agassizii — used to be a common backyard pet. But the population of the official California state reptile has shrunk more than 90%, leaving only about 100,000 remaining in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. While upgrading transmission lines in San Bernardino County, Calif., our utility, Southern California Edison, took extra precautions to protect this threatened species.
How Our Biologists Protect Birds: Your Turn
Many birds are attracted to power lines, and often perch and nest on utility poles and towers. This puts them at risk of electrocution if they make contact with certain electrical components. Since 1988, our utility has operated an avian-protection program to protect endangered, migratory and other birds from electrocution, while also preventing power outages that can be caused by birds.
In this interactive training course, you play the role of a utility biologist. Your mission is to investigate the whereabouts of a golden eagle being tracked by the Bureau of Land Management. Along the way, you’ll see the many steps we take to protect birds. You’ll also learn about the native bird species, habitats and ecosystems of Southern California, and the laws that help protect them.
Meet SCE Biologist Kara Donohue
Kara is our utility’s resident expert on avian nesting and avian protection, and advises our fields crews on issues related to protecting birds throughout the 50,000 square-mile service territory. Part of our biological-resources protection team since 2007, she’s also one of our environmental-awareness trainers. When she’s not in the field, Kara manages our avian-protection plan. She has a master’s degree in Raptor Biology and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Zoology.
Spotlight On
SCE Herpetologist Shares Passion for Environment, Safety
In addition to helping to protect the environment, this employee helps protect crews during snake season.
Crews Help Protect Environment While Setting Fire-Resistant Poles
SCE crews work to not disturb local flora and animals on Catalina Island.
Protecting Desert Tortoises in the Mojave Desert
SCE volunteers recently partnered with the Twenty-Nine Palms Indian Reservation to help clear an exclusion fence for the threatened species.