South Carolina

Wildlife hazards at airports have become a major concern due to the potential for significant damage to aircraft and the threat posed to public health and safety.  To address wildlife hazards at airports, WS personnel in South Carolina contributed 3.756 staff years to provide assistance at 10 civil, 1 joint use, and 4 military airports in FY 2010.  In addition, technical training was provided at 7 airports for 9 airport personnel. 

In South Carolina, some black vultures and many turkey vultures are resident year-round while others are migratory.  After an F-18 reported a turkey vulture strike approximately 1.5 miles from the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort causing $300,000 in damages, the Air Station funded a telemetry study to analyze the hazard posed by vultures to base aircraft.  The collaborative research project includes WS in South Carolina and the National Wildlife Research Center’s Field Station in Gainesville, Florida.