Wildlife Rehabilitation and Wind Energy – Building a Partnership

Injured wildlife (bird or bats) discoveries at operating wind plants, although rare, do occur and are often taken to wildlife rehabilitation centers for treatment and release. This relationship between the wind industry and... [ view full abstract ]

Injured wildlife (bird or bats) discoveries at operating wind plants, although rare, do occur and are often taken to wildlife rehabilitation centers for treatment and release. This relationship between the wind industry and wildlife rehabilitation provides an opportunity for understanding and support between these two groups. Avangrid Renewables, LLC has fostered relationships with wildlife rehabilitation centers throughout the country, some of whom manage hundreds of animals annually (Minn. Raptor Center >100 eagles, Calif. Raptor Center 300-350 raptors/ year). Many of these centers also provide hands-on interpretive and education programs to the general public. Avangrid Renewables has partnered with these organizations to provide on-site training programs to the wind plant employees using educational birds. This has proven to be successful at raising the environmental awareness of the plant staff. Similarly, these interactions allow the wildlife rehabilitation community to understand how wind plants operate and work at minimizing environmental risk. On occasion, misunderstandings of these values and impacts of renewable energy development and operation present a challenge when establishing a working relationship with wildlife rehabilitators, but continued discussions between parties typically clarified those misunderstandings and successful partnerships were forged. This presentation will further describe the rehabilitation benefits and the process to develop a common understanding of mutual benefits and steps to establishing a successful partnership between the wildlife rehabilitation community and renewable energy industry.