21
May/June 2019
|
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
ENDANGERED TOAD CALLS FOR
CREW CERTIFICATION
Employees from the North Austin R/C office obtained
federal certification to work in Houston toad habitats in
order to remove trees within the toad's habitat. Houston
toads are highly endangered and there are only an
estimated 3,000 to 4,000 left in the world.
The crew needed the certification, because they were
removing hazard pine trees near a roadway in a known
habitat of the Houston toad. The certification covered
information about the toad, what to do if they found
one on site and what would happen if one was killed.
Tom Chaky, district manager, said they could have been
fined up to $80,000 if a toad was harmed.
"Every time we did work, we had to have the federal
environmentalist out to clear the site and make sure
there were no signs of the toads," Chaky said.
"They take it really seriously."
At the time of the removals, cold temperatures meant the
toads had burrowed into the soil for winter, Chaky said. The environmentalist
believed the vibrations of the chippers and bucket trucks would send them
fleeing the area, but there was still a chance the crew could have uncovered
them while removing the trees.
Chaky was proud of his employees' willingness to get the certification.
"They were great," he said. "After they heard the story about the toad,
they really paid attention and were proud of it."
Pictured from left are: Korie Butler, Luis Cruz, Bernard Lively, Luis Rosa and Uriel Hernandez.
OWNER'S BOX
"
In my younger days
I didn't think about the
future. We're going to
get older, and we will
need some kind of
fund to proceed with
our lives. Employee-
ownership definitely
changed my attitude
because I know that
I'm going to get
something back.
"
OSMAR MEJIA
production manager
South Chicago office
RESOLVE
The Houston toad is
endangered, which is
why the crew needed
to have the certification
to work in the
amphibian's known
habitat. Tom Chaky said
they didn't see any toads
while working.
