Alabama Power experts helping survey for rare species By Michael Sznajderman March 5, 2021 Alabama Power is working with a number of partners to protect and grow populations of species such as the trispot darter, the gopher tortoise and the Black Warrior waterdog. (contributed) As winter wanes and spring approaches, Alabama Power biologists are helping environmental partners with field work aimed at protecting rare species around the state. Recent work has varied – from an ongoing search in east Alabama for an elusive, tiny fish, to gathering genetic material related to a rare salamander in the Black Warrior River Basin, to seeking out the underground homes of a protected tortoise in southeast Alabama.