Managing safety and wildlife at Jackson Hole Airport

Abstract

Jackson Hole Airport is the only US airport located wholly within the boundaries of a national park, and all airport activities must be performed in accordance with the regulations and policies set out by numerous agencies. Located in a pristine wilderness area, the airport includes habitat for many important species, including a lek (seasonal breeding area) for the greater sage-grouse within the runway safety area. The FAA Wildlife Strike Database identified numerous strikes with the sage-grouse, which had been identified as a candidate species for federal protection under the Federal Endangered Species Act. When the FAA required Jackson Hole Airport Board to prepare a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, the Airport Board understood that the plan would have to satisfy the requirements of numerous federal, state and local agencies while remaining sensitive to local sage-grouse conservation efforts. The board embraced the challenge and developed a collaborative process involving agencies, researchers and consultants. The resulting Wildlife Hazard Management Plan provided a triple win for the agencies, the sage-grouse and the travelling public.