After spotting an injured baby cardinal outside the Corpus Christi Service Center, a few AEP Texas employees stepped in to help. Telecom employees Jessica Rodriguez and Pauline Teran noticed a motionless red cardinal on the ground. Rodriguez noted that it didn’t fly away from them, which led her to realize it was hurt. Rodriguez said it was a beautiful baby bird and wanted to help it rather than leave it behind. 

AEP Environmental Specialist Shannon Hemmerly advised them to wear gloves while carefully placing the bird in a towel-lined box and to contact a rehabilitator before bringing it in so the rehabilitator can prepare for its arrival. 

Telecom employee Natasha Holmbergh transported the bird to the Texas Sealife Center, a nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases coastal and aquatic wildlife. The center staff examined the bird, found that nothing was broken, and eventually released it. Rodriguez noted that AEP employees know Environmental Respect is one of the company's core principles and that rescuing the cardinal was the right thing to do.