NOTE FOR MEDIA: Images can be found within this Bynder link. Photo credits are contained in the file names. (example: Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium). 

Powell, Ohio — 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. 

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. 

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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 600 animal species from around the world, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide. For more information, please visit ColumbusZoo.org.

About The Wilds
The Wilds sits on almost 10,000 acres of lush landscapes along the Appalachian Byway and attracts nearly 120,000 visitors annually. With the mission of Empowering People. Saving Wildlife., The Wilds is among one of the largest, cutting-edge conservation centers in North America and is home to more than 500 animals representing 28 rare and endangered species from around the world. The Wilds operates tours, overnight accommodations, special events, and summer camps as a source of revenue. The Wilds is located at 14000 International Road in Cumberland, Ohio, about 90 minutes east of Columbus. The Wilds is open year round, with a full line of tour options running from May through October and specialty tours available from November through April. For more information, visit TheWilds.org.

About AEP Ohio
AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of American Electric Power. AEP Ohio provides electricity to 1.5 million customers. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at AEPOhio.com. Our team at American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) is committed to improving our customers' lives with reliable, affordable power. We are investing $54 billion from 2025 through 2029 to enhance service for customers and support the growing energy needs of our communities. Our nearly 16,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electric transmission system with 40,000 line miles, along with more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver energy to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity. We are focused on safety and operational excellence, creating value for our stakeholders and bringing opportunity to our service territory through economic development and community engagement. Our family of companies includes AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit aep.com.