What is a common, proactive approach to reducing wildlife strikes at airports?

• A. Habitat modification combined with active deterrence and coordination with wildlife control programs.
• B. Installing extra fence height without deterring wildlife.
• C. Relying solely on human presence to scare birds away.
• D. Reducing runway length to limit bird habitats.

Answer: (A)

Reducing wildlife strikes through a proactive, layered approach that addresses why birds are attracted to the airfield in the first place. By modifying habitats around the airport to reduce attractants (like limiting food sources, controlling water features, and managing vegetation), combined with active deterrence (sound and visual devices, repellents, and targeted hazing) and close coordination with a wildlife control program for monitoring, data sharing, and rapid response, airports create ongoing, preventive protection. This integrated strategy lowers the presence of birds on and near runways before conflicts arise, rather than waiting for incidents to occur.

Why the other ideas aren’t as effective: simply increasing fence height doesn’t deter birds or reduce attractants and can be circumvented; relying only on human presence to scare birds is unreliable because birds quickly habituate; shortening runway length to limit bird habitats unduly restricts operations and doesn’t address the broader attractants or management needs.