Wildlife Hazard Working Groups for on and off Airport Wildlife

Hazard Management

Christopher Boggs, Airport BiologistUSDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services

Hershey Airport ConferenceMarch 3, 2010

Wildlife Hazard Working GroupResponsibility and Function

• Meets at Least Annually• Conducts Annual Review of the Wildlife

Hazard Management Plan (WHMP)• Analyzes Collected Data • Reviews Management Methods and Activities• Recommends Changes WHMP• Re-evaluate Group Make Up

Wildlife Hazard Working GroupAirport Members and Representatives

• Airport Manager• Operations Department • Airport Maintenance Department• Airport Wildlife Biologist • Planning or Engineering Department • Air Traffic Control • Airport Tenants (FBO, Corporate, Military)

Airport Stakeholders • Township Planners• Landfill or Trash Transfer Station Operators• Homeowners Associations • Golf Courses

• Parks and Recreation/Nature Areas • Agricultural Boards• Malls and Shopping Centers• Owners/Managers of Identified Wildlife

Attractants

Airport Stakeholders

Benefits• Develops mutual

relationship of being “good neighbors”

• May allow for mutual assistance to resolve problems

• Routine reporting• Increased information

for better decision making

• Fosters a safe airport environment

Obstacles • Outside property owners/

managers do not have knowledge of wildlife hazard issues

• Property owners may be close minded to the needs of the airport

• Requires investment in education and outreach from the airport to obtain participation

• Airports tend to internalize problems

Involving Stakeholders in Wildlife Hazard Management

Internal vs. External Types of Groups

Internal

• Only Airport Based Personnel and Departments

External • Community based Canada

Goose Programs

• Landfill Task Force

• Community Planning

Combination – Involving All Stakeholders

Community Based Canada Goose Management

Airport Tenant provided funds for a program on multiple properties. City Park: Nest and Egg Treatment, and a Capture/Removal Program

Landfill / Transfer Station Airport

Airport Tenants

Waste Handling Facility – Airport Notification

Procedures

Advisory / Update ATIS

Call regarding bird activity at landfill / Transfer Station - determine correct course of action

ATC

Community Planning

Recommendations to Land Use Planners and Developers

Community Outreach

•Homeowners Associations•Municipalities •Business Owners

Accomplishments

• Increase communication, cooperation, and coordination among stakeholders

• Minimize creation of attractive habitat• Manage existing habitat to make it less

attractive • Facilitate changes in development to avoid

creation of additional hazards• Communicate wildlife damage management

issues and solutions to people

Resources and Assistance

FAA/USDA WHM Airports Manual

http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov

1-866-4USDAWS

New Jersey 609-641-8147