1. Removal of Off-Airport Wildlife Hazards A Case Study - NYC Canada Geese Presented by Saleen Tennis 33 rd Annual Airports Conference Hershey, Pennsylvania March 2-4, 2010

2. Off-Airport Wildlife Hazards

4. 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

5. Concerns Public Perception Landowners Cost Permits

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Determine Action Options Hazing Egg and Nest Destruction Population Reduction

11. Goose Movement Study JFK Airport

12. 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.

13. Methods 47 proposed removal sites 17 removal sites selected Removals took place mid June – mid July 2009

14. LaGuardia Airport JFK Airport

15. Methods for Removal Geese removed during the molt using capture pens Captured geese were placed alive in commercial turkey crates Euthanized

16. 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

17. Recommendations 1.Work with neighboring landowners 2.Expand Canada goose removals 3.Utilize additional capture techniques

18. 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