Wildlife Hazard Working Groups for on and off Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Christopher Boggs,...

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