Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management
Human–Wildlife Interactions
In the News
Date of this Version
Fall 2014
Document Type
Article
Citation
Human–Wildlife Interactions (Fall 2014) 8(2): article 1
doi: 10.26077/c52j-zg68
Abstract
Birds scorched in mid-air by solar energy plants
A new type of solar power, known as a power tower, is coming under scrutiny because of its negative impact on bird populations, the Associated Press reported. Meanwhile, California officials are considering construction of similar plants near Joshua Tree National Park, California, and the California-Arizona border. The bird kill further complicates power entities’ search to diversify power sources, including more options for renewable energy.
Airliner aborts take-off after engine fire
A JetBlue airliner taxiing before take-off from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on its way to JFK Airport in August 2014 aborted its flight when one of its engines caught fire. WABC-TV of New York City reported that the cause of the mishap was injestion of birds into an engine. All 186 passengers were evacuated to safety, with only 3 people suffering minor injuries.
Airline uses toxicant to mitigate avian hazards
United Airlines contracted to have pest birds, including feral pigeons (Columbia livia) and great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus major; Figure 2), removed by a licensed pest control operator, WFAA-TV of Houston, Texas, reported. It may take about 1 hour for birds that have ingested a lethal dose to die. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service review of the activities found that the toxicant’s use was within regulatory guidelines.
Dayton airport to test grass management technique
An article released by the Associated Press describes an experimental way the Dayton, Ohio, airport will manage its non-aeronautical grass stands. Native prairie grasses also have other benefits, including filtering water runoff, capturing carbon dioxide, and absorbing jet blast.
Bear attacks in Alaska, West Virginia, and California
A man who was walking his dogs in a remote area of outside of Anchorage, Alaska, July 24, was attacked by a 90-kg brown bear (Ursus arctos; Figure 3). Eight black bears were found on the property and 4 bears were captured at the site; but they were later released because none of their DNA matched the one that attacked the woman.
Wood chippers and birds do not mix
Early in May 2014, the U.S. Post Office in Oakland, California, contracted with a local tree trimmer to remove ficus (Ficus benjamina) tree limbs that were used as roosts and nesting locations for black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax; Figure 4). Even though it is unclear if any birds were killed, cutting the limbs and destroying the nests is still a violation of both state and federal laws protecting migratory birds.
Humans hired to replace monkeys
Langur monkeys (Semnopithecus spp.) in New Delhi, India, are out of a job, replaced by humans. The city banned the use of langur monkeys to scare off the rhesus, and instead hired several dozen humans to mimic the cries of langurs and scare off the smaller but fearless rhesus monkeys