Help us keep the skies safe! Wildlife strikes are on the rise, posing a significant risk to aviation. In 2023 alone, there were 19,600 reported strikes at 777 U.S. airports. Factors such as growing wildlife populations, increased aircraft movements, better wildlife strike reporting/awareness, and advancements in aircraft technology contribute to this trend. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services have been diligently collecting data for over three decades to better understand and help mitigate this issue.

At Paine Field Airport, we prioritize both passenger safety and wildlife conservation. Our Wildlife Management Plan, developed in collaboration with USDA Wildlife Services, employs various strategies such as habitat modification, wildlife deterrents, and the translocation of raptors to minimize wildlife-aircraft collisions.

However, we at PAE cannot manage what we do not know! We need you to report wildlife strikes, so we better understand problem species on our airfield, and have the proper documentation to better mitigate the risk of wildlife strikes.

So what should you do if you have a bird or wildlife strike?

REPORT IT! Our wildlife management plan relies on the documentation of strikes to develop a scientific approach to handle the risk to human health and aviation safety. The FAA has a streamlined website with an on-line submittal form available, including much more information regarding wildlife hazards at airports https://wildlife.faa.gov/.