Mammal management: Strike mitigation measures and practices at European airports

Airfield environments can be attractive to a broad range of wildlife, including mammals, and rates of wildlife-aircraft collisions are generally increasing, globally. It is important, therefore, that the components of an airfield that may be attractive to wildlife and the effectiveness of current mammal-exclusion and strike mitigation measures, are understood. However, the suite of applied measures and the efficacy thereof differs between airfields. The collation of such information would represent a useful tool in potentially mitigating strike frequency or severity for airfield managers. To this end, an online survey was distributed to personnel responsible for wildlife management at airfields in Europe (Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Spain and the UK) between July 2020–March 2021. Mammals were recorded at all responding airfields (n = 22), while mammal strikes were recorded at 21 locations. A mammal sightings index scored foxes (91% of airfields) and rabbits (81% of airfields) as the most frequently recorded species. The presence of specific habitat (mainly heathland/peatland) airside was associated with a high mean mammal diversity at airfields in Ireland, the UK and Belgium which reported the presence of this habitat type. The erection of fencing and grassland management measures were the most frequently implemented mitigation measures, while managing water sources within the airfield environment was ranked as the most successful mitigation measure. Our study highlights the need for Wildlife Hazard Management Plans to consider an integrated management approach that not only mitigates general strike risk but is also adaptable to species of particular concern.