Aviation continues to be a growth industry, both in Canada and globally. As airports expand and operations ad air-traffic increase, the challenge to manage wildlife hazards, both at the airport and in the local environment also increases. Beacon Environmental brings together a leading group of professionals to meet the aviation industry’s need for the assessment of wildlife hazards and risks based on current industry standards and internationally recognized “best practices”.

Our team has:

• Collaborated on the Transport Canada Airport Wildlife Planning and Management regulations and has since prepared various documents to assist with the implementation of these regulations
• Prepared landfill wildlife management plans especially where they interact with the safe movements of aircraft
• Prepared a hazard and risk assessment and management plan for Ottawa International Airport and other regional and international airports
• Prepared wildlife management plans for international and regional airports.

 

Conflicts and interactions with large populations of geese have caused concerns for municipal and private land managers. Beacon Environmental currently manages Canada Geese for numerous municipalities and private businesses, and Beacon staff co-authored A Strategy for the Management of the Canada Goose in the Greater Toronto Bioregion in 1997 and presented two papers at the 1999 International Urban Canada Goose Management Symposium in Toronto.

During the past decade, many related projects in the GTA have included:

• Management Plans for the Port Credit area and for the Hamilton Basin
• Population monitoring, egg-oiling and management training programs have been undertaken in Oshawa, Whitby, Uxbridge, Mississauga, Oakville, St. Catharines, Newmarket, Hamilton and Burlington
• Site-specific strategies respond to local conditions and reflect an understanding of stakeholder issues and each client’s concerns and goals.

 

Implementation of a wildlife management plan at airports requires the integration of varied wildlife management practices, airport operations and understanding of roles and responsibilities of field staff and managers. In association with Transport Canada, Beacon Environmental staff have developed and delivered wildlife management training courses for airports across Canada that brings together all aspects for a successful wildlife management program. Courses can be specifically developed to meet the needs of individual airports as well as for the generally aviation industry.

Course topics include:

• Current government regulations and industry standards
• Wildlife hazards assessment and risk assessments
• Active wildlife control techniques
• Habitat management
• Data needs and management
• Management of a control program – roles and responsibilities
• Elements of a wildlife control program
• Environmental legislation, Regulations and permits.