FirstEnergy Employees and Wildlife Officials Team Up to Rescue Osprey in Northeast Ohio
Quick thinking and close coordination between FirstEnergy employees and Ohio wildlife officials helped rescue an osprey that was trapped in debris within its nest on a transmission structure in northeast Ohio. After receiving reports that the bird was unable to free itself, employees quickly mobilized resources and partnered with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to safely carry out the rescue.
A Coordinated Rescue Effort
The rescue effort began Aug. 12 when employees at FirstEnergy's Transmission Control Center received a call about an osprey trapped in its nest along an energized 138-kilovolt (kV) line in the Akron area. The bird had become entangled in frayed string or other debris that had been woven into the nest, preventing it from freeing itself.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, FirstEnergy personnel immediately coordinated with ODNR to develop a rescue plan that would protect the bird and ensure employee safety while keeping power flowing reliably to customers.
A three-person Ohio Edison line crew based in Ravenna quickly responded to the site with a 125-foot bucket truck and teamed up with ODNR Wildlife Officer Jesse Janosik to evaluate the situation. After developing a safe rescue plan, company line workers Roger Kline, David Fryda and Dillon Wilson carefully maneuvered the nest and successfully freed the osprey from the tangled debris.
The bird was safely brought down from the structure and transferred to Officer Janosik, who took the osprey into his care for observation and evaluation.
"Protecting wildlife while delivering safe and reliable electric service is an important part of our commitment to the communities we serve," said Amy Ruzsala, Supervisor of Permitting at FirstEnergy and the company's in-house avian expert. "The quick response from our employees and the collaboration with ODNR helped ensure a positive outcome for this bird."
A Commitment to Wildlife Stewardship
This osprey rescue is the latest example of FirstEnergy's ongoing commitment to protecting wildlife across its service territory. Working alongside wildlife organizations, employees help support species that live near electric infrastructure through proactive measures such as installing nesting platforms, using drone technology to monitor hard-to-reach areas and responding to wildlife emergencies when they occur.
"Through close collaboration with state and federal agencies like ODNR, FirstEnergy helps ensure wildlife, including ospreys and bald eagles, can safely coexist alongside the electric system that powers the communities it serves," said Officer Janosik.
That collaborative approach was also on display in July, when FirstEnergy partnered with ODNR and local wildlife experts to help protect a pair of nesting bald eagles and their eaglets in Akron.
Whether supporting nesting birds or carrying out rescues like this one, FirstEnergy employees play an important role in helping protect local wildlife while maintaining the safe, reliable electric service customers depend on every day.
MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Siburkis, lsiburkis@firstenergycorp.com, (330)203-8850