Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Jackson County, Oregon, has hired Loomacres Wildlife Management to perform a wildlife assessment.
Brian Gebhard, director of operations at the airport, told Passenger Terminal Today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires airports to have an up-to-date wildlife plan, based on an assessment undertaken by a specialist airport wildlife biologist.
“We have had an assessment and plan done in the past by a qualified airport wildlife biologist, but that was 15 years ago,” he explained. “We went out to bid recently, and the firm we selected was Loomacres Wildlife Management. It will bring in the staff to perform the assessment for the next year.”
According to Gebhard, Loomacres’ primary responsibilities will be to survey wildlife conflict resolution and control, and to look at avian, large mammal, owl, small mammal and wildlife attractants. It will also provide a report on vegetation at the airport, and undertake strike history analysis. Information from the surveys will be used to develop a new wildlife plan.
At most airports, operations staff carry out these tasks. Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport is unusual in appointing external specialists.
