# Presentation: 524079

## Managing Wildlife at Micronesian Airports, continued

*Daniel Vice*
*USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services*

## Presentation outline

- Overview of wildlife and aviation, including FAR requirements (Assessment and Plan)
- Management actions
- Documenting and reporting

## USDA, Wildlife Services provides federal expertise in managing human/wildlife conflicts through direct control, technical assistance, and research and development 

**MOU between FAA and USDA establishes a cooperative relationship for resolving wildlife hazards to civil aviation to benefit human safety**

## The FAA requires airfields handling commercial aircraft to address wildlife hazards if a real or potential wildlife problem is present (FAR Part 139). 

## Wildlife Hazard Assessment

- Assess species abundance, diversity, frequency of use over a 12-month period
- Assess wildlife attractants on and around airfield
- Develop recommendations to manage wildlife based upon the assessment

## BASIC WILDLIFE NEEDS...

- Food
- Cover
- Water

## The goal of an airport’s Wildlife Hazard Management Plan should be to eliminate the risk of wildlife strikes to aircraft - The target is zero tolerance for wildlife in the operations environment

## Keys to successful wildlife hazard management

- Identify your risks and develop management strategies specific to those risks
- Use an “Integrated Management” approach
- Use the right equipment and people for the job
- Don’t expect a “silver bullet”
- Be vigilant and committed

## Perceived sequence of actions under 139.337

- Wildlife Hazard Assessment

- Wildlife Hazard Management Plan

- Wildlife Hazard Management

## The need for a Wildlife Hazard Assessment does not preclude active management using best available information

## Needed Sequence of Action

- Wildlife Hazard Assessment

- Wildlife Hazard Management Plan

- Implement Best Management Practices

- Operational Wildlife Hazard Management

## Developing Management Actions Before Completion of a Wildlife Hazard Assessment

- Actions must be driven by baseline knowledge of risks
- In some situations, no action may present lower risk to aviation safety than the wrong action

## EQUIPMENT FOR WILDLIFE HAZARD MANAGEMENT

- Reliable mowing equipment
- Reliable vehicle
- 12 ga. shotgun, single shot for pyrotechnics
- 12 ga. shotgun, pump or semi-automatic, with ammunition
- 15 mm “starter” pistol for pyrotechnics
- Pyrotechnics for both shotgun and pistol
- Safe storage box for ammo and pyrotechnics
- Propane cannons
- Binoculars
- Regional bird field guide
- Live traps for dogs/cats

## Egrets versus Plovers

*Traits common to both birds:*
- Migratory in Pacific (non-breeding)
- Flocking
- Serious aviation hazard
- Prefer open areas
- Persistent

- Egrets:
- Non-territorial
- Learn from lethal control
- Follow mowers
- Roost in trees

- Plovers:
- Territorial
- Do not learn
- Roost on ground

## Egrets versus Plovers, con’t

- How to best control

- Egrets:
- Shooting, re-enforced with non-lethal harassment (pyrotechnics)
- Vegetation management

- Plovers:
- Non-lethal harassment with pyrotechnics
- Decoys, create a “safe” area
- Sheet water management

## Grass Management

- In general, short grass is better
- Plovers prefer short grass (gives better vision)
- Better than displacing birds into tarmac
- But, egrets follow mowers
- Therefore, must prioritize risks and manage for primary risk

## Slide 17

## Slide 18

## Why Report Bird Strikes?

- Encouraged under AC150/5200-32A
- Increase local awareness of risk
- Leads to species identification, which facilitates development of best management practices

## Bird Strike Procedural Matters

- Retain dead birds for positive identification
- Photograph bird(s) if cannot retain carcass
- If carcass not available, retain feather remains for identification – submit to Smithsonian Bird Lab (see AC150/5200-32A)
- Report wildlife strikes via FAA Form 5200-7
- (on-line _http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov_ )

## REVIEW OF ACTIONS	

- Assessment to identify risks
- Species abundance and use
- Habitat features that serve as attractants
- Develop management plan specific to airport
- Develop management actions specific to each targeted species
- Implement with vigilance
- Monitor for results and changing risks
- Do not dismiss wildlife presence as no risk

## FAILING TO ADDRESS WILDLIFE IN THE AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT PLACES AVIATION SAFETY IN THE “HANDS” OF ANIMALS...

## Contacts for Assistance

- Honolulu Airports District Office
- 808.541.1232
- USDA Wildlife Services, Guam
- 	Daniel Vice 		671.635.4400 daniel.s.vice@aphis.usda.gov
- USDA Wildlife Services, Hawaii
- 	Mike Pitzler 		808.861.8576 _[mike.e.pitzler@aphis.usda.gov](mailto:mike.e.pitzler@aphis.usda.gov)_
- Reed-Joseph	http://www.reedjoseph.com

## THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

- QUESTIONS?

## Brown treesnake containment on Guam

## Brown treesnake

- GUAM

**Brown treesnake**

**   **

**Birds, Bats, and Lizards **

**Snake Bites**

**Power Outages**

**Pets and Poultry**

**Military readiness and commercial operations**

## Slide 28

## Slide 29

## Prevention of snakes leaving Guam is key to keeping other 

**Prevention of snakes leaving Guam is key to keeping other **
**Pacific Islands and **
**US Mainland**
**Brown Treesnake free**

## Tools for Brown Treesnake Control

## Currently, USDA, Wildlife Services implements a large scale containment program on Guam

Over 100,000 BTS have been removed from Guam’s military and commercial ports of exit since 1994

- Over 100,000 BTS have been removed from Guam’s military and commercial ports of exit since 1994

## THE PENDING MILITARY BUILD-UP ON GUAM...

## Container throughput at Port Authority of Guam

## Invasive Species

- Growth in the military sector on Guam will affect commercial transportation regionally
- Increased regional traffic will greatly increase the risk of BTS and other invasive species moving around Micronesia
- Intensive planning underway to meet greatly increased containment requirements