The annual training session, dubbed Turtle-palooza, is part biology lesson, part competitive turtle tracking, and it's all for the protection of some endangered species living in our rights-of-way. More than 60 contractors joined Eversource employees and experts from Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to learn how to spot and protect the elusive turtles under the Natural Heritage Program. Painted, Eastern Box and Wood turtles are especially fond of the clearings under our electrical equipment as a habitat to live and breed. The training is aimed at heightening awareness among crews to be on the lookout for protected and some endangered species living in active work sites where heavy equipment is sometimes used.

The day long training session included a morning of classroom instruction on turtle behavior in the wild, as well as their diet and lifespan - they can live up to 50 years. This was followed by an afternoon tracking turtles with the help of a specially trained dog.

The aim of the training, which is in its fourth year, is to help protect the species while maintaining a reliable electric system.

Eversource Energy published this content on 06 June 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 06 June 2017 18:38:19 UTC.

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