203 protected areas where they can’t apply herbicide. “Everything is marked in GIS so that our crews know exactly where they can and can’t go,” he said. Ringhofer and his crews identify and clear invasive species— such as buckthorn and swamp willow—that grow too-tall thickets. In the 2020s, they encountered the Bradford pear, which has a weak branch structure and typically topples within 20 years. Clearing nuisance or hazardous vegetation gives native plants and animals room to grow. An area cleared of Sustainability buckthorn saw the return of wild indigo, wild bergamot, cup plant, and black-eyed Susan. ComEd inspectors have been counting milkweed stems to see how many of those pollinator plants have taken hold, and then uploading their findings to the GIS. They also look for eagles’ nests, Blanding’s turtles, rusty patched bumblebees, and any other rare or endangered species. “We’re definitely seeing more diverse habitats and species on our rights-of-ways, including turtles,” Ringhofer said. Map of ComEd’s territory denotes the prime pollinator habitat it monitors, along with each area’s conservation status, to meet its agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Courtesy of ComEd.
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