The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is working to make the public aware of measures that have been taken to minimize the impact a Rock County utility project will have on an endangered species of animal.

Conservation Biologist Stacy Rowe says American Transmission Company’s expansion of the Kittyhawk Substation in the town of Beloit could result in the unintentional loss of ornate box turtles.

Rowe says an 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.

Rowe says that the proposed project is not likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the species within the state, the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part of, or the habitat that is critical to their existence.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments on the project through July 19th.