Wildlife management efforts
Dover AFB first to use border collies to chase
away troublesome geese
Susan E. Walls
436th AW Public Affairs
 
Shadow and Monty come from humble beginnings. Not too long ago, these
four and a half year-olds were abandoned without so much as a roof over
their heads. Their lives have taken a major change of direction and now
instead of walking the streets, they're running around in their own "Field
of Dreams." They're not too particular about the type of field either.
Whether it's a local farm or the area near the flight path at Dover Air
Force Base, the duo are true "workaholics." On the surface,
both are typical playful toddlers until they hear the commands sent through
a shepherd's whistle - then it's down to business. Chasing geese and other
birds from the Dover AFB flightpath are what these border collies live
for - and they can't get enough of it.
Dover AFB has become the first Air Force base in the country to use
specially trained border collies as a wildlife management tool. Shadow
and Monty may be the best defense yet against migratory birds that pose
an ongoing safety hazard to Dover C-5 Galaxies and other transient aircraft.
After nearly a year of extensive market research by the 436 Airlift
Wing Contracting Squadron and 436 AW Safety Office, a three-year wildlife
management contract was awarded Feb. 1, to Border Collie Rescue, Inc. BCR
is a non-profit, national humane organization that assists in the rescue
and placement of abandoned border collies in the United States and around
the world.
"All of our dogs are specifically trained as bird/wildlife control
dogs and are trained at the Gainesville Regional Airport in Florida. Because
they are trained in a busy airport environment, they are already accustomed
to an airfield setting (complete with engine noise, runways, etc.),"
said Dr. Nicholas Carter, director of BCR.
"We had tried for years to deal with the bird and goose population
around the flightline. Our attempt to use radio-controlled model airplanes
met with limited success," said Master Sergeant Dan Wood, non-commissioned
officer in charge, 436 AW Flight Safety.
According to MSgt Wood, Dover AFB is in an area of high bird aircraft
strike hazard potential. With three wildlife refuges in the local flying
area and Dover AFB located in the north/south migratory path, literally
thousands of birds use the base and surrounding area as a 'rest stop,'
from September to April. According to the Department of Fish & Wildlife,
Canada geese for example, have more than tripled in the United States in
the last decade to now more than 2 million birds.
In the DelMarVa region, the bird hazard increases each fall and remains
high until birds migrate north in the spring. Blackbirds and Canadian geese
are the main threat. The blackbird population peaks at 150,000 from mid-October
through mid-November and resurfaces in February. Snow geese begin arriving
in mid-October and peak at 150,000 in January and February. Additionally,
seagulls are a year-round problem, peaking in number from March through
May.
Since the border collie program began a month ago, thousands of Canada
and snow geese, along with many other birds have flown to more placid surroundings.
Except for a stubborn goose or two, most have not returned.
"The contractor will be require to provide wildlife management
and control persons who will be responsible for eliminating or minimizing
wildlife hazards for safe air and ground support operations at Dover AFB,"
said Gloria Hawkins, contract specialist.
"We've been very successful so far," said Wood. "The
geese are back almost three miles from the airfield now." Several
different measures are being used to reduce the attraction of birds to
the airfield such as the border collies, radio controlled model airplanes,
harassment, relocation, airfield airdrome patrol and perimeter fence monitoring.
There has been no loss of life from bird strike accidents at Dover,
but since 1997, $1.2 million in damage has resulted from untimely encounters
of the multi-million dollar C-5 Galaxy aircraft and flocks of 25-30 pound
geese.
One tragic result of what a significant bird strike can do, was the
loss of an E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System plane at Elmendorf AFB,
Alaska. The E-3 struck about three dozen geese during takeoff as the aircraft
passed rotation speed. Ingesting at least three geese into engine two and
at least one into engine one, the aircraft was unable to maintain controlled
flight and crashed into a forest about one mile beyond the runway. All
24 occupants were killed.
The use of the border collie program here at Dover hopes to minimize
this potential. Bred to herd sheep and other animals, these primarily black
and white border collie dogs will not harm the geese. "Trained border
collies can run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour," said Dr. Carter.
"They're obsessive-compulsive workaholics who would work 24 hours
a day, seven days a week if they could."
The dogs do not bark as they drive the geese away, but the fear is
nevertheless instilled in the geese and other birds to stay clear from
the flightpath. Carter and the border collies will patrol the airfield
throughout the day. Carter uses a shepherd's whistle to send directional
commands to the dogs. "As soon as they hear my voice, or a certain
whistle command, they go to town," he said.
The contract cost approximately $7,400 per month, which covers the
cost of the dog and its training, the handler, a vehicle, insurance and
other expenditures, associated with keeping the airfield bird-free. "Price
is irrelevant when it comes to safety," said Wood. "We're very
optimistic about the border collies and how they can help control wildlife
at Dover AFB."
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