Habitat Modification

1. Habitat Modification -Reducing Wildlife Hazards through Habitat Modification -34th Annual Airports Conference Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

2. Detention Ponds -Designed to drain within 48 hr. -May fail to properly drain *Poor installation *Poor Maintenance Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

3. Wildlife Hazard Attractant A hazard; even at night • Creates an artificial habitat for wildlife • Wetland • Open Water • Attracts a variety of wildlife • Wading Birds • Blackbirds • Waterfowl • Shorebirds Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

4. Case Study • Detention Pond Near Runway • Approximately 800’ from a runway • Long-term open water and tall emergent vegetation • Attracted large number of Waterfowl • Muskrats living in bank • Sediment clogged drain Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

5. Solution • Removal of Pond • Removed majority of feature • Eliminated wildlife habitat • Altered remaining • Increased functionality • Easier to maintain Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

6. Results Eliminated use by hazardous wildlife Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

7. Drainage Ditches -Required on most airports -Divert water from airport -When working properly do not pose a significant risk -Often go unmaintained *several reasons Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

8. Wildlife Hazard Attractant • Creates an artificial habitat for wildlife • Wetland • Open Water • Nesting Habitat • Attracts wildlife • Wading Birds • Blackbirds • Ducks Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

9. Case Study • Overgrown drainage ditch • Approximately 500’ from a runway • Standing water and tall emergent vegetation • Attracted large amounts of RWBL • Sediment clogged drain Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

10. Solution • Remove tall vegetation • Specialized equipment • Dedicated staff • Focused effort Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

11. Results • Removed all tall vegetation • Eliminated nesting habitat • Reduced RWBL ~%90 Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

12. Overgrown Streams -Common on or near airports -Often impossible to remove -Creates several wildlife hazards -Flooding Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

13. Wildlife Hazard Attractant • Creates Habitat • Wetland • Open Water • Nesting Habitat • Food • Creates a corridor • Beaver • Deer • Carnivores Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

14. Case Study • Steam within airport fence • Standing water • Tall emergent vegetation • Flooding • Deer Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

15. Solution • Remove tall vegetation • Specialized equipment • Dedicated staff • Focused effort Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

16. Results • Removed all tall vegetation • Significantly reduced nesting habitat • Reduced obstructions • Less flooding • Eliminated thick cover • Removed cover • No Corridor • No refuge • Reduce food supply • Beaver Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

17. Research • Man-made Pond • Objectives • Remove large pond and restore natural stream • Reduce large waterfowl • Improve fishery • Increase diversity of woodland songbirds Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011

18. -If you build it, they will come. -If you don’t they won’t. Loomacres Wildlife Management - 2011