AEP Ohio and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium are celebrating a significant milestone in their Trim to Treat® partnership: the delivery of over 1 million linear feet of fresh tree trimmings, also known as browse, to the Zoo. That’s equal to more than 2,700 football fields laid end-to-end! This accomplishment highlights a successful collaboration that serves a dual purpose — helping protect the electric grid and supporting animals at the Zoo.
Credit: Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Since the partnership launched in 2021, some of the trees and branches trimmed by the AEP Ohio forestry crews have regularly been donated and delivered to the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds. AEP Ohio’s forestry program is critical to keeping the power on by making sure lines and equipment are free of trees and brush that could cause outages for customers.
“Our goal is to provide reliable service to our customers, and our forestry work is essential to making this happen,” said Dale Hopkins, AEP Ohio forestry manager. “Through our Trim to Treat partnership, we’re able to not only protect the flow of electricity, we’re able to provide food and enrichment to the animals at the Zoo. We’re incredibly proud to support the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and to celebrate this milestone together.”
Each week, the Columbus Zoo uses approximately 19,100 linear feet of fresh tree trimmings for its animals, and AEP Ohio provides 5,000-9,000 feet of it. These fresh trimmings are essential not only to the animals’ diets and enrichment but also help the Zoo save money by reducing the need to purchase browse from external sources.
“Fresh browse is a vital part of the care we provide to many of the animals at the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds, as it offers nutrition, enrichment, and opportunities for natural behaviors,” said Dr. Jan Ramer, senior vice president of animal care and conservation at the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds. “Thanks to our partnership with AEP Ohio, we’re able to ensure a reliable supply of this important resource. This collaboration is a wonderful example of how working together can benefit both our community and the animals who call the Zoo and The Wilds home.”
To learn more about the impactful Trim to Treat partnership and how it works, visit AEPOhio.com/Trim-to-Treat.