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Removal of Off-Airport Wildlife HazardsA Case Study - NYC Canada Geese
Presented by Saleen Tennis33rd Annual Airports
ConferenceHershey, Pennsylvania
March 2-4, 2010
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
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
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
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