Hareport hazard: Identifying hare activity patterns and increased mammal--aircraft strike risk at an International Airport

Ball, Samantha , Caravaggi, Anthony , Butler, Fidelma (2023). Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation. 33--45.

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Summary

Wildlife collisions with aircraft are an increasing safety concern worldwide. At Dublin Airport, researchers studied Irish hares (Lepus timidus hibernicus) using motion-activated cameras to understand how their activity relates to aircraft strikes. The hares showed a clear bimodal pattern, being most active at sunrise and sunset. Strike records matched these peak activity times closely, showing a high overlap between hare movement and strike incidents. Interestingly, most strikes occurred when overall aircraft activity was relatively low, highlighting times when hares are most at risk. The study emphasizes that knowing the daily and seasonal activity patterns of wildlife is essential for designing effective mitigation strategies. By aligning management efforts with when animals are most active, airports can reduce collision risks and improve safety for both wildlife and flights.

BibTeX

@article{ball2023hareport,
 author = {Ball, Samantha and Caravaggi, Anthony and Butler, Fidelma},
 journal = {Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation},
 number = {1},
 pages = {33--45},
 title = {Hareport hazard: Identifying hare activity patterns and increased mammal--aircraft strike risk at an International Airport},
 volume = {9},
 year = {2023}
}