Avoiding Wildlife Hazards: Strategies for Safe Takeoffs and Landings

For pilots operating in today’s increasingly complex airspace, wildlife encounters might not top the list of anticipated in-flight risks—but they should. Strikes involving birds, deer, coyotes, and even turtles have become a routine concern at both large and small airports. From the smallest grass strip to regional hubs, wildlife incursions pose a danger that is all too real. In fact, the FAA reported over 17,000 wildlife strikes in 2023 alone, a number that has grown steadily over the past two decades. These events can cause significant damage to aircraft, endanger lives, and result in costly insurance claims.

If you’re a pilot who owns or operates an insured aircraft, learning how to proactively minimize these threats is critical. Managing wildlife risks goes beyond just good airmanship—it’s an investment in safety, financial responsibility, and avoiding needing your insurance coverage. The good news is that there are some steps you can take to detect and avoid wildlife hazards, report dangerous activity to airport officials, and correctly document any incidents that do occur.

Why Wildlife Hazards Demand Your Attention

Many pilots associate wildlife strikes with dramatic bird ingestion events involving large commercial jets. But the truth is, general aviation pilots are just as vulnerable—if not more. Lighter aircraft are more easily damaged, and many GA operations take place at rural airports or airstrips where wildlife management is minimal.

Common species involved in strikes include:

• Birds: Gulls, raptors, waterfowl, and songbirds
  
  
• Mammals: Deer, coyotes, rabbits, and even feral pigs
  
  
• Reptiles: Occasionally snakes or turtles on southern runways

Birds remain the most frequent offenders. Gulls, ducks, geese, and raptors are among the most commonly struck species, particularly near bodies of water or agricultural areas. However, mammals such as deer, foxes, rabbits, and feral pigs present an equally serious risk, especially during early morning or nighttime operations. Even reptiles, such as turtles on runways, have been responsible for incidents. Whether it’s a large deer bounding across a rural runway or a flock of starlings lifting off as you rotate, the danger is real—and the best response is prevention.

Preflight Vigilance: Building Wildlife Awareness into Your Routine

Avoiding a wildlife strike begins before you ever start your engine. A thoughtful walk-around can be just as much about observing the environment as it is about checking fuel caps and tire pressure. Make it a habit to scan the entire airfield environment, paying attention to grassy areas, drainage ditches, tree lines, and any spots where food, water, or cover might attract animals.

If your airport allows it —and many rural ones do —a drive down the taxiway has even been a possible way to check. Especially in the early morning hours when deer are frequently mulling around.

At towered airports, you can request information from ground or tower controllers about known activity, especially during dawn or dusk. Frequently, if there are any, they will notify you. I have many times, even at bigger towered airports, had them tell me about the coyotes hanging around the runway environment.

Understand Wildlife Patterns: Timing Is Everything

Wildlife behavior tends to follow predictable patterns tied to both time of day and season. Understanding these patterns can help you anticipate and avoid encounters.

Most bird activity peaks during the early morning and late afternoon hours—coinciding, unfortunately, with common flight training and recreational flying periods. Dawn and dusk are also when mammals like deer and coyotes are most active. These animals often emerge from wooded areas in search of food and water, sometimes crossing open airport environments that seem quiet and unthreatening.

Seasonal changes also influence wildlife risks. In spring and fall, migratory bird species are on the move and may be found in larger numbers, particularly near lakes, rivers, and wetlands. In summer, young mammals such as fawns or young foxes may be active and unaware of the danger posed by taxiing aircraft. Winter brings its own challenges as snow cover drives animals to new feeding grounds—including those adjacent to plowed runways or ramp areas.

Seasonal Considerations

• Spring and Fall: Peak times for migratory birds. Be extra vigilant during VFR flying.
  
  
• Summer: Fawns and young mammals may be exploring near runways.
  
  
• Winter: Food scarcity may drive animals into airport areas, especially if snowbanks reduce their natural habitat.

By factoring these patterns into your preflight planning and decision-making, you can reduce the likelihood of encountering a wildlife hazard at the worst possible moment.

Operational Techniques for Wildlife Avoidance During Takeoff and Landing

When it comes time to taxi, take off, or land, there are several practical techniques that can help reduce your exposure to wildlife risks—many of which come down to awareness and decisiveness.

Before you enter the runway, take a long look down both directions. Even be willing to back taxi down the full length if traffic volume allows it. Be sure to scan grass along the edges and any areas where animals might dart out from cover. If you see movement or birds nearby, don't rush your departure. A brief delay to allow animals to move on or disperse could prevent an accident.

Using your aircraft’s lights can also be an effective deterrent. Turning on taxi lights, landing lights, or even strobes during takeoff and approach can startle wildlife and make your aircraft more visible to them. At night, make full use of lighting to illuminate the runway environment and watch for glowing eyes or movement near the edges.

If you see birds near the departure end during your takeoff roll, consider aborting if conditions permit, and it's safe to do so.

For landings, maintain a stabilized approach, but be ready to execute a go-around if an animal or bird is spotted in your landing zone. It's far better to delay your arrival than risk a collision while your options are limited.

At night, it can be much harder to see animals on the runway from greater distances, and the decision time to make a go-around choice may be limited. Be ready for this at airports that may have animal populations that end up in the runway environment. Some pilots choose to do a “low pass” over runways at night to get a good look before they make a landing. I can’t honestly tell you if that helps or not. Some argue that making the low pass makes it more likely that animals will get disturbed and end up running onto the runway, while others argue that it scares them away and probably clears the runway. I haven’t seen conclusive data either way. However, I will say, being ready to go around at night is the right option, no matter what.

If you encounter a “wildlife strike” and you are already on the ground, going back into the air is almost never the right option. If you are on the ground, you are experiencing decelerating energy and are less likely to cause more injury to passengers and crew than if you try to go back into the air. If you do happen to hit any wildlife after touchdown, keep that power out and do your best to keep steering the aircraft in the safest direction possible until the aircraft has come to a stop.

In-Flight Wildlife Encounters: What to Do

If you do find yourself on a collision course with wildlife, your first priority is to maintain control of the aircraft. This is especially important if birds suddenly lift into your path on final or just after rotation. Resist the urge to make sharp evasive maneuvers—overreacting could cause a stall or runway excursion. If a bird strike occurs, continue flying the aircraft, considering the potential for continuing at maneuvering speed, and assess the damage.

Damage from a strike may not be immediately obvious, especially if the bird does not hit a visible part of the aircraft. Pay close attention to engine sound and instrument readings, particularly if you suspect ingestion. If the engine begins to run rough or loses power, declare an emergency and begin standard emergency procedures for your aircraft type.

Be cautious of any potential effects on flight controls. An animal strike may affect ailerons, flaps, elevator/stabilator control input. If you have had a strike, carefully assess the effects and if there are any problems with maneuvering your flight controls.

Striking an animal during landing or rollout is also a serious event. If it happens, maintain directional control, brake appropriately, and vacate the runway if/when possible. Notify airport staff or ATC immediately so they can respond and prevent a second aircraft from encountering the same hazard.

The Importance of Reporting Wildlife Hazards

As pilots, we are the front line of wildlife strike reporting. Timely and accurate reports allow airport authorities and federal agencies to track problem species and develop effective deterrents. Your observations can contribute to future mitigation efforts that improve safety for everyone.

Always report any wildlife sightings or incidents to airport management, even if no damage occurred. Provide details such as the time, species involved, location, and number of animals. These reports help build a clearer picture of local wildlife behavior and support funding for airport wildlife management programs.

Additionally, pilots are encouraged to submit reports directly to the FAA’s Wildlife Strike Database using Form 5200-7. These reports are not punitive, and the data they contain is critical for national trend analysis, airport risk assessments, and environmental planning.

Handling Insurance After a Wildlife Incident

Should you experience a wildlife strike that results in damage to your aircraft, taking the right steps immediately afterward is essential—not just for safety, but for ensuring your insurance claim is processed without complications.

Begin by photographing the damage as soon as it is safe to do so. Take both wide and close-up shots of the affected areas, such as the propeller, windshield, landing gear, or engine cowling. Note the date, time, location, and environmental conditions, and record any witness statements from passengers or airport personnel.

If there are remains of the animal or bird, photograph them for species identification. This may sound unpleasant, but insurers and FAA officials may need this information to confirm the nature of the incident.

Notify your insurance provider as soon as possible, ideally within 24 to 48 hours. Be prepared to submit maintenance records, pilot logs, inspection reports, and your completed wildlife strike report. If an A&P mechanic inspects the aircraft for damage, ensure their findings are documented in detail.

Some insurers also require you to coordinate inspections through approved shops or underwriters. Review your policy in advance to understand what procedures are required after a wildlife incident.

Be ready to make an NTSB report if the damage fits into a reportable “accident” category under 14 CFR 830. This can usually be done by contacting your local FSDO office, which will route you to someone on call for accident reporting.

How Airports Manage Wildlife—and How Pilots Can Help

Airports across the country have adopted a range of strategies to reduce wildlife risk. At larger airports certified under Part 139, a formal Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP) is required. These plans typically include habitat modification, fencing, dispersal tools like pyrotechnics or propane cannons, and even trained dogs or falcons used to scare away birds.

Smaller airports may rely on more informal methods, but pilots can play an important role by supporting local efforts. If you observe overflowing trash, standing water, or tall uncut grass that might attract animals, bring it to the attention of airport staff. If your airport doesn’t have a wildlife mitigation plan, consider advocating for one through the airport board or user advisory groups.

Reducing wildlife hazards is a shared responsibility between airport operators and pilots—and your engagement makes a difference.

Stay Vigilant, Stay Safe

Wildlife strikes are not rare. They’re an ongoing operational hazard that demands attention, preparation, and calm execution when things go wrong. By taking time to scan for wildlife before departure, understanding when animals are most active, and remaining vigilant throughout all phases of flight, you can dramatically reduce your risk.

When incidents do occur, thorough documentation and prompt reporting help ensure that your insurance provider can assist with repairs and recovery. Equally important, sharing your experiences with airport authorities and aviation safety programs contributes to a safer national airspace system.

Whether you’re flying a Cirrus, a Piper Cub, or a King Air, the risks from birds and mammals don’t discriminate—but preparedness can make all the difference. Stay sharp, stay informed, and stay safe.

Jason Blair is an active single- and multi-engine instructor and an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner with over 6,000 hours total time, over 3,000 hours instruction given, and more than 3000 hours in aircraft as a DPE. In his role as Examiner, over 2,000 pilot certificates have been issued. He has worked for and continues to work with multiple aviation associations with a focus on pilot training and testing. His experience as a pilot and instructor spans nearly 20 years and includes over 100 makes and models of aircraft flown. Jason has published works in many aviation publications, a full listing of which can be found at www.jasonblair.net.

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