Wing Safety has a wild side

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lynn Aird
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Not every aspect of base safety deals only with people-- the safety of both people and animals is the job of Mr. Aaron Betts, Vance's own U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife biologist. 

An employee of the USDA, Mr. Betts specializes in mitigating human-wildlife conflicts in the context of air travel safety. He joined the 71st Flying Training Wing Safety team June 2007, coming from his previous occupation at the Gunnison Airport in Colorado. 

"My last job was with a civilian airport, but I really enjoy working with the military," Mr. Betts said. "It's an excellent working environment and really prioritizes the safety of people." 

To prevent dangerous incidents between people and animals, Mr. Betts' top priority is habitat management. The goal is to make the base--the airfield in particular--as unattractive to wildlife as possible. Wild animals pose a strike hazard to aircraft that are taxiing or in the air; collisions can result in injury, extensive property damage or in the worst case, loss of life. Direct interactions between people and wild animals are also dangerous, as the animals are potential carriers for parasites and diseases, and can be known to attack if they feel threatened. 

After assessing different areas on base, Mr. Betts makes recommendations to Airfield Management, such as fixing fences, mowing grass to specific heights, or fixing water gaps. 

"The main reason people have problems with wildlife is because they don't know what needs to be fixed to keep animals away," said Mr. Betts. "Once we make it a place the animals don't want to be, we're more or less in business." 

Birds and water fowl are a primary concern for the flightline at Vance. In fact, the base began employing a USDA wildlife biologist after a large population of Canadian geese settled in the areas surrounding Vance in January 2007. Flying operations were shut down for four days due to safety concerns. 

Fortunately, the USDA was able to combat the problem. Starting at the base and working its way out to a set radius, a team of bangers, screamers, and flushers were used to keep the geese away from the area. 

Another bird to worry about at Vance is the Mississippi Kite, a small bird of prey. The Kites arrive on base every year in late April or early May, nest in colonies and stay until approximately September. The danger begins in July and lasts until the Kites leave--in order to protect their nests, adult birds are known to attack people. 

When dealing with Mississippi Kite attacks, Mr. Betts advised that people have something to put above their heads. He recognized that this might be a problem for military members in uniform, so he suggests putting a hand high above your head to distract the birds. 

"Better to have your fingers nipped than get hit in the head," he explained with a laugh. 

Every other year Mr. Betts receives training by the USDA on firearms, CPR and wildlife safety. He and the other wildlife biologists in the state of Oklahoma gather and are re-trained over the course of several days on how to keep themselves, other people and wildlife as safe as possible. 

Aside from birds, Mr. Betts' job also deals with local wildlife on the ground, including deer, coyotes, raccoons, and skunks. The most important thing, he says, is for personnel on base to stay away from the animals. He also stresses not to feed the wildlife. 

"People forget that some of the animals are typical rabies carriers and that they're best left alone," said Mr. Betts, recounting several incidents during his time at Vance.
So far there have been two reported incidents of rabid skunks on base--one by the track, and the other by the fire station--and one incident with a rabid raccoon at the Baker Gate entrance. Due to the dangerous nature of those animals, Mr. Betts had no choice but to exterminate them. 

Typically, however, Mr. Betts is in the habit of scaring wild animals away, or trapping and releasing them. He has a variety of tools at his disposal for this task--propane cannons, ground traps, and pyrotechnics to name a few. 

"A diversified approach is best, especially when dealing with the birds," he said. "They get accustomed quickly if you use the same tactics over and over. So I do what I can to keep the animals from wanting to make a home here."