MONROE - The Monroe Airport has minimal problems with wildlife causing accidents on the runway, officials say.
Rob Driver, airport supervisor, recalls a plane hitting a turkey in 1998. Before that a plane bent a propeller when it hit a deer in 1988, after setting down on the ground during a landing.
"We haven't had a problem on the whole," Driver said Wednesday.
But wild animals, like fox, coyote, turkeys and deer, do come onto airport property often.
"We have the most problems in rutting season, and it doesn't help to have the park right here," Drive said.
A major portion of Forest Prairie Park's 90 acres is located on airport property. Mowed trails are available for people to hike and walk their dogs.
It's also a nice place for deer to live.
"The deer feel safe in there," Driver added.
To combat the risk of accidents, and of liability to the city, trained and tested shooters are selected to hunt deer on the airport property each fall and winter until March. The park section is fenced off during that time to keep visitors out of the area.
Driver said 6-10 deer are harvested annually. This year the shooters have killed only four deer.
Fencing the airport has been discussed by the Airport Board of Management, but fencing is expensive, and Driver said deer can still jump it.
"Janesville put in a fence, and they still have five or six deer a year there," he said.
Wildlife accidents at the airport are reported.
"Our insurance requires it, and we need the report for backup," Driver said.
Rob Driver, airport supervisor, recalls a plane hitting a turkey in 1998. Before that a plane bent a propeller when it hit a deer in 1988, after setting down on the ground during a landing.
"We haven't had a problem on the whole," Driver said Wednesday.
But wild animals, like fox, coyote, turkeys and deer, do come onto airport property often.
"We have the most problems in rutting season, and it doesn't help to have the park right here," Drive said.
A major portion of Forest Prairie Park's 90 acres is located on airport property. Mowed trails are available for people to hike and walk their dogs.
It's also a nice place for deer to live.
"The deer feel safe in there," Driver added.
To combat the risk of accidents, and of liability to the city, trained and tested shooters are selected to hunt deer on the airport property each fall and winter until March. The park section is fenced off during that time to keep visitors out of the area.
Driver said 6-10 deer are harvested annually. This year the shooters have killed only four deer.
Fencing the airport has been discussed by the Airport Board of Management, but fencing is expensive, and Driver said deer can still jump it.
"Janesville put in a fence, and they still have five or six deer a year there," he said.
Wildlife accidents at the airport are reported.
"Our insurance requires it, and we need the report for backup," Driver said.