DOOR COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has proposed to issue a permit for the incidental taking of a rare snake, possibly resulting from the WPS Park Entrance Drive Electric Project in Door County.
A release from the Wisconsin DNR states that the incidental taking of the state-endangered eastern ribbonsnake may result from the Wisconsin Public Service’s project in Door County.
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Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the species’ overall population at risk.
Wisconsin Public Service is proposing to abandon approximately 1,790 feet of underground electric lines and remove existing cross-country overhead electric lines. In addition, WPS plans to install approximately 2,311 feet of underground electric cable to maintain electric service to the Peninsula State Park. Land cover in the impacted area comprises of fresh (wet) meadow wetland within the utility right-of-way (ROW) and forest wetlands outside of the utility ROW. The overhead electric removal will be accomplished via a small utility task vehicle (UTV) or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) using an existing access route and the utility ROW to access and remove the facilities and fill the void space with clean gravel. The installation work will occur in October.
Wisconsin DNR
The eastern ribbonsnake is confirmed to be in the vicinity of the project site.
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Officials with the DNR concluded that the proposed project is not likely to “appreciably reduce” the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the species within Wisconsin.
