ACE Wildlife Hazard Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency holds primary authority over lethal removal of migratory birds at US airports?
- FAA
- USDA Wildlife Services
- US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (Correct answer)
- EPA
Correct answer: US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
The USFWS issues depredation permits under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, making it the authority over lethal take; USDA Wildlife Services typically carries out the removal under that permit.
Question 2: What is a key limitation of using recorded distress calls as a wildlife dispersal method?
- They are illegal without an FAA waiver
- Birds habituate to them quickly, reducing long-term effectiveness (Correct answer)
- They only work on mammals
- They require line-of-sight with the target animal
Correct answer: Birds habituate to them quickly, reducing long-term effectiveness
Repeated use of distress calls without variety causes habituation, so they must be rotated with other techniques to remain effective.
Question 3: An airport operator notices a retention pond within the AOA is attracting large flocks of waterfowl. The FIRST recommended step is to:
- Immediately fill the pond with concrete
- Conduct a habitat assessment and consider modifying or eliminating the attractant (Correct answer)
- Install a perimeter fence around the pond
- File an FAA Form 5200-7
Correct answer: Conduct a habitat assessment and consider modifying or eliminating the attractant
The foundational principle of wildlife hazard management is to remove or modify attractants; a habitat assessment identifies options before costly or irreversible actions are taken.
Question 4: Strike reports submitted to the FAA are used in part to calculate the Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Index for an airport. What does a rising index indicate?
- Improved wildlife management outcomes
- An increasing rate of strikes relative to aircraft operations (Correct answer)
- More aircraft movements than the previous period
- Better pilot reporting compliance
Correct answer: An increasing rate of strikes relative to aircraft operations
A rising strike index indicates more strikes per unit of aircraft operations, signaling that wildlife hazard risk is increasing and management actions may need intensification.
Question 5: Which of the following is a LETHAL wildlife control method that requires a depredation permit?
- Falconry
- Shooting with a firearm (Correct answer)
- Cannon net trapping for relocation
- Habitat modification
Correct answer: Shooting with a firearm
Shooting migratory birds requires a depredation permit from the USFWS under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; trapping for relocation may also need permits depending on species.
Question 6: An airport's Wildlife Hazard Management Plan must be reviewed and updated at minimum:
- Every 6 months
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Every 3 years
- Only after a strike incident
Correct answer: Annually
FAR Part 139.337 requires the WHMP to be reviewed at least annually and updated whenever conditions or wildlife activity patterns change significantly.
Question 7: Which characteristic of deer makes them especially dangerous on runways compared to birds?
- They are active only during daytime hours
- Their large body mass means even a low-speed strike can cause catastrophic airframe damage (Correct answer)
- They congregate in large numbers that trigger TCAS alerts
- They are attracted to runway lights specifically
Correct answer: Their large body mass means even a low-speed strike can cause catastrophic airframe damage
Deer can weigh 100–300 lbs, and a collision at even moderate taxi speed can cause structural damage or gear failure, making them among the most dangerous mammals at airports.
ACE Wildlife Hazard Management 3
Which federal agency holds primary authority over lethal removal of migratory birds at US airports?