Inspection & control programs for wildlife Essay

Wildlife exists in every ecosystem. From the desert, rainforest, plain areas up to developed urban cities and communities we can observe wild animals. These animals, plants and different organisms which have lived through generations of harsh conditions the natural environment has inflicted, without being put under human control comprise what we know as the wildlife. Non-domesticated plants and animals and other organisms make up the different forms of wildlife. Animals and plants are important for human survival. They are consumed for food, man’s basic need to live. They also provide shelter and protection against adverse weather conditions and varying weather patterns. They are use to build houses and create different raw materials that would cater men’s everyday needs. Through the passage of time men have learned to domesticate different species of plants and animals. By domesticating them, access to animals and plants that previously were found only in the wild, was made easier. Foods and different by-products that are obtained from domesticating them can be made available in a matter on time. It relieves people from the burden of hunting and the trouble it presents. Furthermore, by learning to take care of them people had created a more control environment that has greatly benefitted these plants and animals. Competition among the animals was eliminated as needs for survival is sufficiently provided by men. Although the process of domesticating the different species of plants and animals has yielded promising results to men, some species are best left in the wild. Examples of these animals are ferocious creatures such as mountain lions, tigers, coyotes and bears. People will find it very difficult to tame the above mentioned creatures. Coexistence between the family members and community people would be impossible to achieve. Birds are also best left in the wild, as they brighten our sky with their every flight. Wildlife provides men a large number of benefits. Wildlife aids in achieving a balance in nature. They are the lead characters that balance everything in nature, as a result a more diverse wildlife is created (Duke, 1981). Thus, a more convenient, fitting and healthy environment is obtained. Also, they provide more sophisticated raw materials that men used in manufacturing clothes, shoes and other goods used for adornment. Wildlife also contributes to people’s enjoyment in involving to outdoor activities. Hiking, camping and mountaineering are made more exciting with the knowledge about the â€Å"wild†. Wild animals and plants are also hot subjects for anyone taking photographs. But among these outdoor activities, hunting has become the most anticipated form of enjoyment. Each year, more and more are engaged with the said activity. Through the years, men have learned and understand the importance and implication of wildlife to their lives. Today, huge attention is given to wildlife in order to prevent extinction of some animal species. The Federal and State Government are in the forefront of providing services that would ensure the abundance of our wildlife in the future. They are the agencies that have taken full responsibility in creating a diverse wildlife that in turn leads to a healthy environment. They have provided guidelines and programs that would direct every individual to perform appropriate conducts to support their agendas. However, with the continuous effort of the Federal and State Government of uplifting the conditions of the wildlife in different regions, conflicts were born between human and the interests related to wildlife. Boundaries have been crossed that requires immediate actions in order to protect the interests of both parties. Wildlife is a constant threat to human safety. It adversely affects our society. In Arizona, mountain lions are allowed to lurk and roam. It is consider as part of the government’s conservation program symbolizing Arizona’s wilderness. With the lion’s population thriving, death on the people’s livestock increases at a rapid rate. Incidents of attacks to human were also recorded. Aside from the security threat wildlife poses to men, wild animals are carriers of disease that could easily be transmitted to men. Rabies and other airborne diseases are very common for wild animals which can easily be transmitted to people. Wildlife also poses risks to public safety in the field of aviation. Flocks of birds flying in certain altitude can collide with a commercial or military aircraft. Collisions between birds and airplanes are inevitable. Due to the large mass and the aircraft’s movement at high speed, aircrafts are at risk in colliding with birds. Although, birds has the ability to change direction and flight course in a matter of time, the speed level of aircrafts, make it improbable for migrating birds to change their direction of flight before a collision can take place. Bird collisions and accidents involving mammals and other land animals happen mostly during an airplane’s take off and landing. The bulk of the number of collisions happening before take off and during landing is a direct result caused when aircrafts fly at low altitudes. Collisions result to damage of properties that in return lead to the crashing of aircraft, injuries to pilot and passenger and death to some extent. Damages as a result by these collisions amount to million of dollars. The potential for human injury, death and damages to properties always looms largely at hand if wildlife is not placed and kept away from airports and runways. Thus, it is important for airports to be situated in areas far from the route birds used as their migrating patterns. With the different issues wildlife poses, it is then important to maintain a balance between the interest of human and wildlife. Programs and regulations must be made available to the public in order to understand every underlying detail about this issue, since conflicts between wildlife and human is a sensitive topic. The range of environmental, social and economic implications should be carefully considered. To minimize the accidents and threats to public health and safety imposed by wildlife, the Federal and State Government have created programs that would control wildlife activities. In order to control wildlife, technical assistance is important. Technical assistance encompasses information and data studying about wildlife and the damages they brought. It includes managing of problems and at the same time it provides answers and advices in handing out these different issues. In order to effectively control wildlife authorities must first identify and understood the danger the different animal species present in the environment. They should prioritize the dangers these species brought about in order to come up with an effective counter measure. In order for an airport manager to reduce the risk of collision between birds and plane and other accidents brought by wild animals he must first fully understand the situation around the airport’s premises. The Wildlife Services (WS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) assist in providing evaluation and analysis on the different problems created by different wildlife species. A set of rules that will evaluate the dangers, risk factors and threats species of animal present to airports and aircrafts was created. By providing this guideline, the hazards that birds and other species bring to the aviation industry are identified clearly. Managers can then devise preventive schemes that could lessen the accidents brought by the species of animals. This guideline is referred to as risk assessment rating system. The program is applied to every airfield and airport to understand the risks different species posed to flying aircrafts. Furthermore, it enables managers to prioritize the measures they must take. It also provides a brief view of the possible amount of money that would be spent in assuaging the dangers the different animal species presents. Airport managers must also understand and learned about the over all population of the species. Control programs for wildlife include an accurate study about the population of animal species living with in the area of the airport premises. In assessing different threats population data and the overall size of the animal species is a major consideration. Accurate determination of population count provides a better view of the direct dangers species brings to the field of aviation. The greater the population of a certain specie, the greater the dangers they pose to the flying industry. By studying the population species, we can also devise ways of controlling their population. Wildlife Services spends millions of dollars in controlling the animal’s population. By killing the predators, such as bears, lions, and coyotes casualties to public damages are lessen (Nijhuis, 1998). Birds are also killed as they are poisoned, shot, gassed and caught in traps. Although call for non-violent measures for controlling the animal’s population is made, the agency continues to apply this method of managing the species’ population. They continue doing such method, by justifying that the actions are selective, and they only kill predators, upon human request, which have causes damage and pose grave threats to human. Whether or not the approach of dealing with the problems the wildlife presents, is appropriate or not will depend in a number of reasoning, which include the animal specie, the harm inflicted to humans, the geographical locations and rules, regulations and law of a particular city (Fisher, 1996). However airport managers can consider immediate actions that can be done to resolve the problems imposed by birds and other animals. A possibility is using scare tactics that would drive the animals away from the site. This approach is commonly performed in dealing with problems related to birds. In order to protect crops, scarecrows are made that frightens and pushes the birds that feed on them away. Scare tactics are more commonly referred to as harassments (Fisher, 1996). By clearing airspace and the air dome, above the airport operations, fewer accidents may happen. However, not all birds respond well to the harassment applications utilized by airport companies. Some bird’s species are difficult to scare. Some takes longer time in order to be driven away while others come back to the site after days of being gone. A study conducted showed that major number of accidents involved geese. This is a result of the geese’s ability to fly in a much higher altitude compared with other birds. To resolve this standing problem, airport managers enlist the help of Border Collies. Border collie is a breed of dog particularly used in assisting with the handling and managing of livestock. With the aid of these dogs, geese are driven away from the airport’s premises and area of operation. Geese respond well to the harassment imposed by Border collie. Another method apply in controlling wildlife is removing an animal from the site that causes the damage by relocating them to different areas. The process of snaring and providing traps are use here. The main purpose is to relocate the animal’s habitat. They are provided with new home that is far from the airport premises. By combining and incorporating the different actions discussed above a method known as Integration Pest Method is made. Since most accidents involving wildlife occurs before take off and during landing, it is important to take note that other species of animals contribute to these incidents. Collision between birds and aircrafts are not the only accident that may arise. Different land animals can also cause serious problems to airport managers. Deer running on runways and feeding on young tree shoots around the airport premises are also major cause of accidents. Damages to properties and facilities are also obtained that further risk the safety of passengers and personnel. To drive land animals away from the airport’s field of operations, managers adopt procedures which include the use of repellants in their properties. By using chemicals as repellants, they are able to drive population of deer away from the airport premises. They also incorporate fencing to ensure that deer would be kept away from runways. From previous studies conducted, fencing is the most reliable method of controlling deer and other land animal’s population. Airport facilities are sometimes provided with high-voltage electric fence. In that way, deer and other animals will avoid contact with the fence and entry with in the airport would be improbable. Animals are then driven away the airport area thus accidents that may arise can be lessen. Another, program that the government applies in controlling deer and animal’s population is the handing out of permits to hunters during hunting season. Permits â€Å"to kill† are given as necessary measure to reduce the deer’s population (Mills, 1992). Although by providing a thorough study about the population of wild animals generates a great advantage in reducing the dangers certain species create, management and control of the specie’s population will not solve the problem alone. Different concepts and ideas must be integrated to provide greater security and protection. An important and immediate action that can be done to resolve wildlife related problems such as animals damaging a resource is to remove the resource away from the animals. However relocating airport facilities is impractical, because of the huge amount of money that will be involved and for other obvious reasons. The locations of the species with respect to construction of airport facilities must be considered. The closer runways and airport facilities to habitat of animal species the greater the danger an aircrafts is exposed to. Before constructions of new facilities are made, a detailed study must first be accomplished. Since facilities are constructed far from the home of geese and different migratory birds, accidents in runways can be prevented. Approach and take off patterns of aircrafts are also important factors that result to collision accidents with birds. Presence of birds on runways, changes a pilot’s approach on flight operations. Pilots have to be extra cautious as presence of birds is distinguished. In order to address this problem, the field of aviation provides a training program that would equip every personnel with the much needed skills. Even with the presence of migrating birds and animals from the wilderness, safety of aircraft flights will rely heavily on the methods and the capability of an airport to provide accurate air traffic and control data. Thus programs, that provide strict training for every personnel are given by airport managers. The primary method of controlling and monitoring immediate air traffic is by observation at the airport tower. By providing adequate training, personnel positioned inside the tower control can give accurate data about presence of birds or other animal species. Air Traffic Control personnel inside the tower control and the pilot manning the plane should be well trained, posses good eyesight and is able to infer and deduced decision in split-second (Spence, 2000). They should thrive on pressure and stress. They should never be rattled and should always have a sound decision at hand. They must always expect the worst case scenario and prepare a contingency plan. It is all because the safety of the pilot and the passengers rely heavily on their shoulders. This is why before a person is hired as controllers or trusted to fly an aircraft he must first pass several tests. He should be familiar with the different devices use in ATC. The training an employee obtained will make him qualified and responsible for controlling and monitoring aircrafts that would land and depart. Furthermore, he can provide clear information with respect to various ground vehicles and land animals found on runways. Nowadays, the lack of qualified personnel in different businesses is evident that affect their competitiveness in the market. Thus, programs that provide adequate training for staffs is one way of controlling accidents related to wildlife. The development in technology also offers the field of aviation equipments and devices that gives major help to the flying industry (Burkhardt, 1967). As new electronic and computer devices are invented, threats and dangers in flying are greatly reduced (Gilbert, 1973). With the advent of new technology control of air traffic is achieved smoothly and with the airport managers adapting the use of these technological devices, damages and risk of accidents from collision of birds and with land animals during take off and landing is lessen. Use of powerful radars has provided huge benefit to air port managers and passengers. Of thee different equipments provided by the advent of technological development, use of radars contribute largely in monitoring wildlife activity inside an airport premises. Radars are primary use to enable controllers to locate the aircrafts, identify them and view their different speed (Gilbert, 1973). With radars at hand controllers are able to gather information for air traffic control. In the field of aviation a little deviation from the actual status of the plane and the information at hand may lead to accidents. Thus, a much powerful device or radar system that would provide larger information is needed and modernization of these equipments will greatly reduce the risks in flying and aviation related problems such as flight delays and lost air crafts. Accidents caused by wild animals can be avoided as more powerful radars are developed. These radars are designed to control vehicles on the ground and monitor ground traffic caused by run away land animals and flocks of birds especially during night wherein poor visibility exists. This modernized radar system that experts are trying to develop is referred as the surface movement radar. Up to this day continuous researches are conducted to develop modern radars which include a detailed quality mapping of different regions, data blocks, target air crafts and security alerts which are far more helpful compare to data displays by older radars which is limited to map of the airport and target. With the different information provided by these radars data about population of animal species, characteristics of the flock or the herds, the map of their environment can then be easily accessed. Thus, with the application of these products caused by influx of technological advancement, damages caused by wild animals to properties are limited. Wildlife has provided men with benefits since the dawn of time. Food, clothes and men’s primary needs are provided by them. Thus, protection of wildlife is a responsibility for everyone. However, we can never deny the fact the dangers they also present upon us. Public health and safety are at always risk as they thrive. Aviation is one field that is largely affected by the damages brought by wild species of animals such as flocks of birds and herds of deer. It is important that wildlife and human interest are met. Thus, in order to protect the welfare of men, programs and different methods of controlling wildlife is observed around airport premises. Methods used are mixtures of traditional techniques, such as enlisting the aid of Border collie to drive away geese, and modern day practice which rely on the development of technology. It is important that in applying these methods in controlling and managing wildlife, men should not take for the granted the importance wildlife brings to us. References Burkhardt, R. (1967). The Federal Aviation Administration.New York: Frederick A. Praeger. Duke, T. (1981). Wildlife Protection. Conservation, 5. Fisher, P. (1996). Humaneness and vertebrate pest control. Victoria: Government of Victoria. Gilbert, G. A. (1973). Gilbert, Glen A. Air Traffic Control: The Uncrowded Sky. Washington, D. C. : Smithsonian Institution Press. Mills, J. (1992). Controlled Hunting is Environmentally Friendly. Conservation, 19. Nijhuis, M. (1998). Predator control gets out of control. High Country News. Spence, C. F. (2000). Aeronautical Information Manual/Federal Aviation Regulations. New York: McGraw-Hill.