Texas

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 Texas contributed 6.673 staff years to provide assistance at 14 civil, 7 joint use, and 6 military airports for a total of 27 airports in FY 2010.  In addition, technical training was provided at 5 airports for 66 airport personnel. 

In 2008, a WS biologist identified that insect-eating birds were responsible for a large percentage of strikes at an Air Force Base in Texas.  These strikes increased in frequency during the peak of migration.  The biologist recommended that an insecticide be applied to the open grasslands surrounding the aircraft movement areas to eliminate the food source for the insect-eating birds.  After application, strikes by these birds declined 90 percent during the fall migration period, and the need for lethal management has almost been eliminated.