The metal wings of planes and feathered wings of nature often compete 

for the same airspace at the same time. When that happens, collisions may 

occur that result in damage to aircraft and sometimes injuries or even death 

to passengers and crew. The January 2009 emergency landing of U.S. 

Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River dramatically demonstrated this 

hazard.

 To help reduce the risk of these potentially dangerous interactions, WS 

biologists provide airport operators across the Nation with advice and 

recommendations on how to keep runways and flight paths clear of wildlife. 

WS’ Airport Wildlife Hazards Program works closely with the military, the 

civil aviation industry, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal 

Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce the safety hazards and economic 

impacts to aviation caused by birds, mammals, and other wildlife.

 Airports in the Eastern and Southeastern United States experience the 

greatest number of wildlife-aircraft collisions, but the problem exists 

nationwide. In 2017, wildlife strikes were reported from 690 U.S. airports. 

The FAA estimates that birds and other wildlife cause well over $230 million 

in damage each year to civil aircraft in this country. U.S. military aircraft 

also incur many millions of dollars in wildlife damage annually. Indirect 

costs, such as flight delays, aircraft changes, and loss of revenues, add 

immeasurably to direct costs.

How WS Helps

 In fiscal year (FY) 2017, WS biologists provided assistance in reducing 

wildlife hazards at 890 airports located in 50 States, 3 Territories, and 7 

foreign countries. Altogether, they provided 300 staff-years of assistance at 

765 civil airports and 125 military airbases. WS assisted at airports that 

served a total of 750 million commercial passengers and recorded 19.7 

million commercial aircraft movements. The 355 general aviation (GA) 

airports where WS provided assistance recorded 11.8 million GA aircraft 

movements.

Protecting People

Protecting Agriculture

Protecting Wildlife

Wildlife Services Factsheet

November 2018

Safer Skies: 

For Birds and People

Wildlife Services (WS), a 

program within the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS), provides Federal 

leadership and expertise to 

resolve wildlife conflicts that 

threaten the Nation’s 

agricultural and natural 

resources, human health and 

safety, and property.

Birds and other wildlife can 

pose significant threats to 

both human safety and 

property when they appear 

near airports. Through a 

balanced effort of research 

and wildlife management, WS 

biologists are reducing the 

risk of wildlife-caused 

damage to U.S. aviation.

Wildlife Services employees 

routinely train and assist 

airport officials on 

techniques to reduce 

collisions between wildlife 

and aircraft.
Airports face ecologically and legally complex 

issues in controlling wildlife hazards. Each airport 

presents unique geographic and environmental 

conditions requiring professional expertise in wildlife 

damage management. With more than 400 personnel 

trained in airport-wildlife management, WS provides 

assistance, drawing on its network of experienced 

staff and the research conducted at its National 

Wildlife Research Center (NWRC). When the Nation’s 

airports experience wildlife conflicts, the FAA 

recognizes that WS is available to assist.

WS offers technical and direct assistance. 

Technical, or informational, assistance includes: 

consultations; hazard assessments; development of 

hazard management plans; and environmental 

assessments. The program trained more than 5,072 

employees at 406 airports in wildlife hazards 

awareness, wildlife identification, and control 

methods in FY 2017.

WS offers direct assistance using an 

integrated approach to wildlife hazard 

management: 

1) Habitat modifications to make

airports unattractive or inaccessible to 

wildlife provides the foundation. This 

includes:

• reducing water and garbage sources

• installing wildlife-resistant fences

• modifying or removing vegetation,

trees, and roosting sites

• Controlling natural food sources, such

as rodents and insects.

2) Nonlethal dispersal activities.

This includes:

• Visual and noise-making devices, such as

pyrotechnics, propane cannons, lasers, and

recorded bird distress calls

• Harassment with trained dogs, drones and

vehicles

When habitat management and non-lethal dispersal 

are insufficient to eliminate a threat, the following 

actions may be taken:

3) Trapping and relocating wildlife away from the

airport.

4) Lethal control. This is used as a last resort when

imminent danger is observed or when other methods are

ineffective or impractical. Selective lethal control can

also reinforce non-lethal dispersal techniques.

 NWRC conducts research on wildlife population 

dynamics and behavior, habitat management, new 

harassment methods including the use of unmanned 

aircraft systems, and the impact of activities near 

airports on bird–aircraft strikes. This research helps WS 

develop new integrated ways to minimize wildlife 

hazards at airports.

All program activities comply with Federal and State 

laws, regulations, and policies. Airports request the 

work, which is conducted on a user-fee basis. Program 

biologists are active in professional groups, such as The 

Wildlife Society, the American Association of Airport 

Executives, and Bird Strike Committee-USA. 

WS biologists provide assistance at more than 350 general 

aviation airports in FY2017.

WS biologists

provide 

assistance at 

more than 350 

general 

aviation 

airports in 

FY2017.

Memoranda of understanding with several groups 

recognize WS’ expertise and experience in the 

management and mitigation of wildlife strikes. These 

include the FAA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and 

the National Association of State Aviation Officials.

The History of Wildlife Strikes

The first reported wildlife-aircraft strike that resulted in 

a fatality occurred on April 12, 1912, when a Model EX 

Wright Pusher collided with a gull and crashed into the 

ocean, killing the pilot. Recent data shows that bird 

strikes with civil and military aircraft caused at least 282 

human deaths and destruction of 262 aircraft between 

1988 and 2017. The following are examples of the 

widespread and diverse nature of wildlife strikes.
• In 1960, a plane taking off from Boston’s Logan

Airport struck a flock of starlings and went down,

causing 62 human deaths. Relatively small,

starlings pose a hazard due to body density and

flocking behaviors.

• In 1975 at a New York airport, a plane sucked

herring gulls into one engine, which exploded and

separated from the aircraft. The plane caught fire

and was destroyed. No fatalities occurred in the

aborted takeoff, because the passengers were

airline employees trained in evacuation procedures.

• Twice in 1994, commercial aircraft struck coyotes

during takeoff at a Chicago airport.

• In 2001, on an Alabama airport runway two deer

collided with a Learjet, which ran off the runway

and burst into flames. Firefighters fought the

flames for 40 minutes until the pilots could be

rescued.

• In 2008, a DC-10 on descent at 9,700 feet collided

with snow geese. Repairs required 8 days out-ofservice at a cost of $220,000. Another DC-10

required 78 hours out-of-service and $913,678 to

repair engine and cowling damage caused by

ingesting gadwall ducks.

• In 2008, white pelicans and Canada geese were

implicated in strikes that resulted in human

fatalities.

• In 2015, a plane taking off from a Minnesota airport

hit a soaring bald eagle at 5,000 feet causing major

damage. The pilot returned the aircraft to the

airport. Repair costs were $100,000. Bald eagles

weigh about 9 lbs for males and 12 lbs for females.

• In 2015, 24 bald eagle strikes with civil aircraft

were reported in United States.

• In 2017, a medical transport helicopter en route at

1,000 feet in Arkansas hit a flock of migrating snow

geese. The burned wreckage was found several

hours later next to reservoir containing large

numbers of waterfowl. Bird remains were found in

the helicopter at the wreckage site. The three

people on board were killed.

National Wildlife Strike Database

Current studies suggest that approximately 91 percent 

of all strikes with commercial aircraft at certificated 

airports are reported.

 WS maintains the National Wildlife Strike Database 

for the FAA and compiles regularly published reports. 

Information, covering 1990–2017, shows:

• A total of 187,343 reported bird strikes and 4,054

terrestrial mammal strikes in the United States.

• Of the strike reports noting the level of damage,

92 percent of the bird strikes and 73 percent of

the terrestrial mammal strikes identified no

damage to aircraft. Less than one percent of bird

strikes and one percent of mammal strikes

resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft.

• Of aircraft totally destroyed, 59 percent were

struck at general aviation airports and 64 percent

were small general aviation aircraft. Outreach to

encourage strike reporting at general aviation

airports remains an important WS and FAA

activity.

Airport Wildlife Hazards 

Program: FY 2017 Quick Facts

• Assisted 890 airports and airbases

• Provided 300 staff-years of assistance

• Trained 5,097 airport personnel in wildlife identification and strike management

• Live-trapped and relocated wildlife at

149 airports

• Conducted habitat modification projects

at 255 airports

• Airports/airbases contributed $31.3

million to fund WS work

In fiscal year 2017, WS trained 5,097 personnel at 406 airports in

wildlife hazards awareness, wildlife identification, and control methods.
Technical and Direct Management Assistance Provided by Wildlife 

Services’ Biologists To Reduce Wildlife Hazards at Airports1, FY 2017

Type of assistance to reduce wildlife hazards No. of airports

Direct

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

1

 A total of 785 airports were assisted.

2

 Number of airports where training took place; personnel from additional airports attended some training 

courses.

Additional Information

1 A total of 635 airports were assisted.

2 Number of airports where training took place; personnel from additional airports attended some 

training courses.

For more information about managing wildlife damage at airports or other WS operations, please 

call 1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297) or visit the Web site www.aphis.usda.gov/

wildlife_damage/.