North Carolina\nairports report that birds and other wildlife strike aircraft an average of once\na day. A wildlife hazard mitigation program operated by the N.C. Department of\nTransportation\u2019s Division of Aviation aims to reduce the risk of wildlife\nhazards by providing training and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFlocks\nof birds taking flight, deer crossing runways and other such hazards can cause\nserious damage to property and even loss of life. Our program focuses on\nreducing that risk and increasing safety for aircraft that fly in and out of\nairports across our state,\u201d said Division of Aviation Statewide Program Manager\nRajendra Kondapalli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Federal\nAviation Administration Wildlife Strike Database, which tracks wildlife\nstrikes, estimates that only one in five strikes are reported, which adds up to\na significant threat to property and life. A 2018 aircraft landing at a general\naviation airport, for instance, sustained more than $800,000 in damage when it\nstruck two of six white-tailed deer crossing the runway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wildlife\nprogram, offered through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of\nAgriculture\u2019s Wildlife Services, provides five regional trainings and assessments\nof one-third of the state\u2019s 72 public airports each year. It also provides \u201cquick-response\u201d\ndirect management activities for airports experiencing wildlife hazards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quick-response\nprogram provides both proactive and reactive management such as harassing\ngeese, gulls, raptors and other birds using pyrotechnics, habitat management\nand, if warranted, lethal control. The USDA may live trap and relocate\nhazardous raptors such as hawks and falcons to suitable habitats miles away\nfrom the airport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trainings provide\ninstruction and hands-on practice identifying common animal species, potential\nhabitats and food sources that attract animals to airports and methods to\nsafely deter wildlife from interfering with airport operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese trainings\nare very important because they help the airports better understand the hazards\non their airfields and what they can do to mitigate them, short-term and\nlong-term,\u201d said Chris Willis, western district supervisor for the USDA Wildlife\nServices in North Carolina, who provides the training. \u201cIt also helps the\nDivision of Aviation understand the needs the airport may have or what hazards exist.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n