Removal of Off-Airport Wildlife HazardsA Case Study - NYC Canada Geese

Presented by Saleen Tennis33rd Annual Airports

ConferenceHershey, Pennsylvania

March 2-4, 2010

Off-Airport Wildlife Hazards

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Aviation Administration

Advisory Circular

Subject: HAZARDOUS WILDLIFE ATTRACTANTS ON OR NEAR AIRPORTS

Date: 8/28/2007

Initiated by: AAS-300

AC No: 150/5200-33B

Change:

1. PURPOSE. This Advisory Circular (AC) provides guidance on certain land uses that have the potential to attract hazardous wildlife on or near public-use airports. It also discusses airport development projects (including airport construction, expansion, and renovation) affecting aircraft movement near hazardous wildlife attractants. Appendix 1 provides definitions of terms used in this AC.

Off-Airport Program Development

• Identify the hazard and source• Identify the landowners• Determine the management options for addressing the hazard

• Decide on the management option that best suits your situation

Concerns

• Public Perception

• Landowners• Cost• Permits

Off-Airport Program

• Implement the management program– Work with a Biologist trained in Wildlife Management

– Be cautious about public perception and use professional conduct

• Evaluate the program

Resident Canada Geese in NY and NYC

State of New York 250,000

State’s population goal 85,000

Metropolitan New York region 25,000

Strike History

• Over the past 10 years there have been 78 Canada Goose strikes in New York state

• These strikes caused more than 2 million dollars in damage

Working with Landowners

• NYC Wildlife Hazard Management Steering Committee.

– Port Authority– Wildlife Services– NYC Mayor’s Office– DEC– USFWS– Dept of Correction– NYC Parks and Recreation– Town of Hempstead– National Park Service

Determine Action

Options

HazingEgg and Nest DestructionPopulation Reduction

Goose Movement Study

JFK Airport

The NYC Canada Goose Removal

Objective: To reduce the resident Canada Geese population at City-owned public parks, ball fields, and other man-made and natural habitats within 5 miles of airports

in metropolitan New York City.

Methods

• 47 proposed removal sites• 17 removal sites selected• Removals took place mid June – mid July 2009

LaGuardia Airport

JFK Airport

Methods for Removal

• Geese removed during the molt using capture pens

• Captured geese were placed alive in commercial turkey crates

• Euthanized

Results

• 7 days work• WS removed 1,235 of the 1,513 Canada geese observed at the 17 selected sites

• 5-6 % of resident population

Recommendations

1.Work with neighboring landowners

2.Expand Canada goose removals3.Utilize additional capture

techniques

Summary

• Off-Airport Wildlife Hazards are a significant threat to aviation safety

• Airports need to work with landowners and wildlife managers to develop a suitable program to eliminate or reduce these Hazards when and where they occur

• All wildlife programs need to be evaluated periodically and adjustments made as needed