South Central Indiana REMC (SCI REMC) recognizes the responsibility to its members, community, and environment. That’s why in conjunction with the mission to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective electricity, the cooperative works to create, promote, and preserve wildlife habitats through its Wildlife Enhancement Program.
As of early 2015, SCI has installed:
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136 Bat Nesting & Colony Boxes
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469 Bluebird Boxes
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89 Wildlife Food Plot Areas
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4 Eagle & Osprey Nesting Platforms
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11 Raptor Perches
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9 Red-Tail Hawk Nesting Platforms
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50 Kestrel & Screech Owl Nesting Boxes
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39 Barred Owl Nesting Boxes
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5 Barn Owl Nesting Boxes
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18 Flying Squirrel Colony & Nesting Boxes
The Wildlife Enhancement Program targets 3 key areas:
Habitat:
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Where possible, dead trees are left standing & trimmed below power lines to provide habitat for squirrels, raccoons, bats, bluebirds, woodpeckers, owls, hawks, bees, & other pollinators.
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Where property owners allow, brush & wind-rolled piles are left in right-of-way corridors to provide nesting & shelter habitat.
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Most cleared right-of-way areas are reseeded with a seed mixture developed to protect against erosion, promote a more desirable & manageable right-of-way floor, & foster indigenous species & pollinator habitat.
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Most slow/low-growing trees/bushes suitable for wildlife are left undisturbed.
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SCI uses the Basil method of herbicide application, which targets undesirable, fast-growing tree species that may interfere with electric reliability.
Wildlife:
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Where possible, active bee, den, & nesting trees are left undisturbed.
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SCI REMC installs bluebird boxes, bat boxes, owl & hawk nesting boxes, nesting platforms, & hunting perches throughout its service territory to foster wildlife.
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Work is scheduled/performed to minimize disturbance of known nesting/active sites.
Education:
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Employees are trained yearly on endangered/protected species of animals, plants, & pollinators.
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Supervisors are annually certified with the State of Indiana in herbicide application/use.
History of the Program
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2005 |
2006 |
2009 |
2015 |
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SCI developed its Energy for Wildlife Program, making it the second utility and first REMC in the nation to do so. |
SCI received a certified endorsement of its wildlife program through the National Wild Turkey Federation (NTWF) and the NTWF’s first Energy for Wildlife Award. |
SCI developed its internationally recognized Raptor Enhancement Program. |
SCI enhanced wildlife seed mixture to be more pollinator beneficial by adding wildflower seed to mix. Relinquished ties with NWTF Energy for Wildlife Program and established its in-house Wildlife Enhancement Program. |