MONROE - A healthy population of deer east of the city is creating a dangerous situation on runways at the Monroe airport. But at least one nearby resident is concerned about the safety of a preferred method of controlling the herds.
The Federal Aviation Administration's manual for managing wildlife hazards at airports recommends adopting a "zero tolerance" policy for deer on airports. If fencing is inadequate, the manual says, "shooting is the best procedure" for removing the deer.
Rob Driver, airport operator, said to control the deer a select number of experienced hunters have been allowed to shoot high-power rifles on airport land. He has a list of about 8-10 people who can hunt the land, four of which are police officers.
"No way can you do it with a shotgun because of the distance," he said.
But Paul Hannes, a member of the Monroe Airport Board of Management, said he recently received a call from one area resident questioning the safety of that method. Hannes said the caller wanted to know if the hunters had any "regard for what's behind the target."
What is behind the deer, in particular, are farms and the 90-acre Forest Prairie Park wildlife area, with trails for hiking, cross country skiing and dog walking. The park is adjacent to the airport land.
Jeff Wahl, who works for the airport, reported seeing herds of 5 to 25 deer Saturday and 10-15 Wednesday night. He said many deer cross the airport land and runways while traveling between local corn fields and the park.
"There's food, water and cover," he said.
Deer on the runway create a danger to aircraft and exposes the animal to an inhumane death.
Nate Klassy related to the board the last incident of a single propeller airplane that hit a doe on the runway six years ago. Klassy said not only was the deer killed but the accident also damaged the propeller.
Driver said there have been about a dozen reports of deer on the runway from pilots in the past 10 years. But he said the potential injury and death from hitting a deer with a plane is far greater than with an automobile.
Unlike automobiles, aircraft cannot stop quickly and usually have no option of leaving the runway to avoid the animal. Driver said there is also a point during landing when a plane cannot take off again.
Planes are made of aluminum, not steel, to be light and flexible. They can be flipped and nose gear can be ripped off, when they hit a 130-140 pound deer at 100 miles per hour, said Driver.
Propeller damage from plane vs. deer accidents requires the aircraft engine to be dismantled to check for internal damage. Klassy said the work can cost approximately $25,000 for the propeller and engine check for a single propeller airplane.
Jets used by local companies cost $3-6 million, and repairs to them are much more costly, said Driver.
Another reason for the need to control wildlife on the runway is to reduce liability. The City Council and the airport board have allowed hunting at the airport, partly as an effort to show an attempt to control deer and reduce the city's liability. Issuing deer damage tags to the airport reduces the Department of Natural Resource's liability.
Permits are the DNR's method of controlling the deer. If the DNR did not allow the hunting, it would become responsible for removing the deer, Driver said.
The board has discussed fencing to control the herds. According to Driver, entitlement money is allowed to be used to fence the airport land. However, the cost for fencing the airport's 125 acres does not seem feasible to the board at this time, and the cost would reduce money for other projects.
Kelly Finkenbinder, airport manager, said the board has to consider "how would the fence fit our five-year plan," which has the entitlement money slated for other projects, such as blacktop.
Even with fencing, DNR and the FAA recognize that occasionally deer can get through and onto runways. Thus, Mayor Ron Marsh noted "fencing is not the total cure."
The board will take up the discussion again at their next meeting, 5 p.m. Feb. 27.
The Federal Aviation Administration's manual for managing wildlife hazards at airports recommends adopting a "zero tolerance" policy for deer on airports. If fencing is inadequate, the manual says, "shooting is the best procedure" for removing the deer.
Rob Driver, airport operator, said to control the deer a select number of experienced hunters have been allowed to shoot high-power rifles on airport land. He has a list of about 8-10 people who can hunt the land, four of which are police officers.
"No way can you do it with a shotgun because of the distance," he said.
But Paul Hannes, a member of the Monroe Airport Board of Management, said he recently received a call from one area resident questioning the safety of that method. Hannes said the caller wanted to know if the hunters had any "regard for what's behind the target."
What is behind the deer, in particular, are farms and the 90-acre Forest Prairie Park wildlife area, with trails for hiking, cross country skiing and dog walking. The park is adjacent to the airport land.
Jeff Wahl, who works for the airport, reported seeing herds of 5 to 25 deer Saturday and 10-15 Wednesday night. He said many deer cross the airport land and runways while traveling between local corn fields and the park.
"There's food, water and cover," he said.
Deer on the runway create a danger to aircraft and exposes the animal to an inhumane death.
Nate Klassy related to the board the last incident of a single propeller airplane that hit a doe on the runway six years ago. Klassy said not only was the deer killed but the accident also damaged the propeller.
Driver said there have been about a dozen reports of deer on the runway from pilots in the past 10 years. But he said the potential injury and death from hitting a deer with a plane is far greater than with an automobile.
Unlike automobiles, aircraft cannot stop quickly and usually have no option of leaving the runway to avoid the animal. Driver said there is also a point during landing when a plane cannot take off again.
Planes are made of aluminum, not steel, to be light and flexible. They can be flipped and nose gear can be ripped off, when they hit a 130-140 pound deer at 100 miles per hour, said Driver.
Propeller damage from plane vs. deer accidents requires the aircraft engine to be dismantled to check for internal damage. Klassy said the work can cost approximately $25,000 for the propeller and engine check for a single propeller airplane.
Jets used by local companies cost $3-6 million, and repairs to them are much more costly, said Driver.
Another reason for the need to control wildlife on the runway is to reduce liability. The City Council and the airport board have allowed hunting at the airport, partly as an effort to show an attempt to control deer and reduce the city's liability. Issuing deer damage tags to the airport reduces the Department of Natural Resource's liability.
Permits are the DNR's method of controlling the deer. If the DNR did not allow the hunting, it would become responsible for removing the deer, Driver said.
The board has discussed fencing to control the herds. According to Driver, entitlement money is allowed to be used to fence the airport land. However, the cost for fencing the airport's 125 acres does not seem feasible to the board at this time, and the cost would reduce money for other projects.
Kelly Finkenbinder, airport manager, said the board has to consider "how would the fence fit our five-year plan," which has the entitlement money slated for other projects, such as blacktop.
Even with fencing, DNR and the FAA recognize that occasionally deer can get through and onto runways. Thus, Mayor Ron Marsh noted "fencing is not the total cure."
The board will take up the discussion again at their next meeting, 5 p.m. Feb. 27.