Effectiveness of Chemical Repellents In Managing Birds at Airports

Authors

Larry Clark, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Michael L. Avery, USDAFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Clark, L. and M.L. Avery. 2013. Effectiveness of chemical repellents in managing birds at airports. In: T.L. DeVault, B.F. Blackwell, and J.L. Belant, editors. Wildlife in Airport Environments: Preventing Animal-Aircraft Collisions through Science-Based Management. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, in association with The Wildlife Society. 25-35.

Comments

U.S. government work.

Abstract

Repellents include methods and devices used to manipulate behavior of animals to reduce damage or nuisance. Critical to the design and success of repellents is understanding how sensory modalities mediate perception of signals, and how ecological context and sensory inputs influence animal learning. A repellent's success is tied to the axiom of using the proper tool for the proper job. When repellents "fail," it is almost always because wildlife managers have not appropriately matched signal, receiving systems, message, and context. Reconciling such considerations can be a complex process. In this chapter we review components and processes essential for the successful use of repellents for managing birds at airports.