Wildlife Pros — Jacksonville, FL
Airport & Military Wildlife and Bird Control
Bird strikes and wildlife on runways are not nuisance problems — they are safety and operational hazards. Wildlife Pros provides FAA-compliant wildlife hazard management for Jacksonville's aviation and military installations.
Wildlife Hazard Management for Jacksonville's Aviation Facilities
Jacksonville is home to three active aviation facilities with distinct wildlife hazard profiles: Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and Cecil Airport. All three operate within Northeast Florida's coastal and wetland ecosystem — one of the most wildlife-dense environments in the United States. The St. Johns River corridor, adjacent marshes, and the urban-wildland interface that surrounds all three facilities create persistent pressure from bird species that pose direct strike hazards, as well as ground-level wildlife that compromises perimeter security and runway safety. Wildlife Pros provides wildlife hazard management services calibrated to the operational requirements and regulatory environment of aviation and military facilities.
FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-33 establishes the framework for wildlife hazard management at certificated airports. Military installations operate under additional DoD and service-branch directives. Wildlife Pros understands both regulatory environments and works within them — not around them. Our services include bird dispersal and hazing programs, nest and roost management, perimeter wildlife exclusion, ground-level wildlife removal, and documentation that supports FAA Wildlife Hazard Assessments and Wildlife Hazard Management Plans. We coordinate directly with airport operations staff, wildlife biologists, and installation environmental officers to develop programs that meet compliance requirements and reduce strike risk.
- The FAA recorded over 17,000 wildlife strikes at US airports in a single recent year — birds account for more than 97% of all reported strikes
- Jacksonville International Airport sits within the Atlantic Flyway, one of the four major North American bird migration corridors
- NAS Jacksonville borders the Ortega River and tidal marshes — prime habitat for wading birds, raptors, and waterfowl that create runway hazard
- Vultures are among the most dangerous bird strike species due to their size and soaring behavior at low altitudes near runways
- FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-33 requires certificated airports to conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments when triggering events occur
- Cecil Airport's location in western Duval County places it adjacent to extensive pine flatwoods and wetland corridors with high wildlife pressure
- Deer on runways are the leading cause of wildlife strike damage by cost — a single deer strike can cause millions in airframe damage
- Effective airport wildlife management requires an integrated program — hazing alone without habitat modification and exclusion produces diminishing returns
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Wildlife Pros — In the Field
Frequently Asked Questions
What bird and wildlife species are the primary hazards at Jacksonville-area airports?
The highest-risk species at Jacksonville-area aviation facilities include Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures (large body mass, thermal soaring near runways), American White Pelicans and wading birds (large wingspan, attracted to adjacent water bodies), Canada Geese and other waterfowl (ground-level runway presence, attracted to retention areas), White-tailed Deer (perimeter breach, runway incursion), feral hogs (ground disturbance, perimeter compromise), and raptors including Ospreys and Red-tailed Hawks that hunt in open runway environments. Each species requires different management methods — a single-approach program is not effective.
What does FAA-compliant wildlife hazard management involve?
FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-33 establishes that certificated airports must conduct a Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA) when triggering events occur — including a damaging strike, an aircraft abort due to wildlife, or wildlife observed on the runway. If the WHA identifies a significant hazard, the airport must develop a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP). Wildlife Pros supports both processes: we provide field data collection for WHAs, implement the management methods specified in WHMPs, and maintain the documentation records that demonstrate ongoing compliance. All work is coordinated with the airport's designated wildlife biologist or operations staff.
How do you manage bird hazards without disrupting flight operations?
All active dispersal and hazing activities are coordinated with the airport operations center and conducted during approved windows that do not conflict with active runway use. We use a combination of methods — pyrotechnics, laser dispersal, trained falconry birds, and habitat modification — selected based on the target species and the operational constraints of the facility. No single method is used in isolation; effective bird hazard management requires rotating techniques to prevent habituation. All activities are logged and reported to operations staff.
Do you work with military installations as well as civilian airports?
Yes. NAS Jacksonville and other military installations in Northeast Florida face wildlife hazard challenges that are in some ways more complex than civilian airports — restricted access requirements, additional security coordination, and DoD environmental compliance directives that layer on top of FAA guidance. Wildlife Pros has experience working within the access and coordination requirements of military installations. We work through the installation's environmental office and coordinate with the base wildlife biologist or natural resources officer to develop and implement programs that meet both operational security and wildlife management objectives.
Aviation-Grade Wildlife Hazard Management in Northeast Florida
Wildlife Pros works with airport operations staff, wildlife biologists, and military installation environmental officers to build programs that reduce strike risk, meet FAA and DoD compliance requirements, and protect flight operations.