When Nature Becomes a Liability: Why Executives Can’t Ignore Airport Wildlife Risk
Wildlife may be part of the landscape, but it’s also one of the most unpredictable safety risks facing modern airports. From bird flocks drawn to nearby wetlands to foxes crossing runways at dawn, the potential for wildlife strikes is constant - and the consequences can be catastrophic.
Under Part 302, Division III of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), certified airports are required to establish and maintain an Airport Wildlife Management Plan (AWMP) that identifies, manages, and mitigates risks associated with wildlife hazards. It’s a regulatory obligation - but more importantly, it’s a core component of an airport’s risk governance system.
While most executives delegate day-to-day wildlife control to operations teams, ultimate accountability for the effectiveness of those programs rests squarely with the Accountable Executive and senior leadership. As regulators and insurers alike continue to scrutinize risk management maturity, wildlife planning is no longer an operational checkbox - it’s a board-level concern.
The Executive’s Role in Managing Wildlife Risk
Section 302.304 requires airports to conduct a wildlife risk analysis based on collected data and consultation with air operators and users. The results form the basis of the airport’s AWMP, which must then be reviewed at least every two years under 302.305(5).
That plan isn’t static. It must evolve with changing conditions - new construction, altered flight patterns, increased movements, or shifting wildlife populations. The regulation further requires plan amendments within 30 days if new hazards are observed or if a significant incident occurs.
For executives, that means the integrity of the wildlife management program is a matter of governance:
Does the organization have a process for identifying and reporting wildlife hazards?
Are risk analyses updated when conditions change?
Are records and reports being maintained and submitted in accordance with 302.303?
And critically, does leadership have visibility into trends, strike frequency, and risk exposure?
If the answer to any of these questions is “I’m not sure,” it’s time to re-evaluate oversight structures.
The True Cost of Wildlife Strikes
Wildlife strikes aren’t just a safety statistic - they carry a complex set of risks that ripple through every layer of an organization:
Safety Risk: A single multi-bird strike or large-mammal incursion can endanger passengers and crew, with catastrophic potential.
Operational Risk: Runway closures, inspections, and cleanups delay flights, cause diversions, and disrupt schedules.
Financial Risk: Costs can include aircraft repairs, insurance premiums, environmental remediation, and lost revenue from delays or diversions.
Reputational Risk: News travels fast when safety is compromised. Even a non-fatal incident can erode public trust and attract regulatory attention.
Regulatory Risk: Non-compliance with CAR 302 and the Airport Standards—Airport Wildlife Planning and Management (CAR 322) can result in findings during Transport Canada surveillance, jeopardizing certification status.
For executives, these aren’t isolated technical concerns - they’re strategic risks that belong on the same dashboard as financial performance, safety metrics, and quality assurance results.
Building a Watertight Airport Wildlife Management Plan
A compliant plan isn’t necessarily an effective one. Executives should ensure that their AWMP is not just written, but lived across the organization. A robust plan should:
Clearly Identify Risks
Include data-driven analysis of all wildlife hazards on and near the airport, referencing attractants such as wetlands, waste disposal sites, or agricultural activities within 15 km.Define Measurable Mitigation Strategies
Detail not only what controls are in place but how their effectiveness is measured - such as through trend analysis, seasonal reviews, or key performance indicators linked to strike data.Integrate with the Safety Management System (SMS)
Wildlife management should not exist in isolation. Findings, reports, and mitigations must feed into the SMS’s hazard identification, risk analysis, and performance monitoring elements.Include Clear Communication and Alerting Protocols
Ensure coordination between airside operations, air traffic services, and pilots is timely and documented as per 302.308.Be Reviewed and Updated Proactively
Don’t wait for the mandated two-year review. Any change in local land use, wildlife activity, or operational profile should trigger an earlier reassessment.Reflect Leadership Oversight
The plan should clearly articulate the roles of senior management, showing visible engagement and accountability beyond the airfield perimeter.
The Executive Imperative
The best wildlife plans are those with executive fingerprints on them - where leadership has taken an active role in understanding risk exposure and supporting proactive mitigation investments.
Ask yourself:
Have I seen our most recent wildlife risk analysis?
Do I know our strike trend over the past 12 months?
When is our next plan review due - and what’s changed since the last one?
If these questions raise uncertainty, that’s an opportunity for action, not blame. Leadership involvement signals to regulators, staff, and the public that safety is led from the top down.
Partner with Us
At Acclivix, we specialize in helping airports strengthen their compliance posture and risk governance. Whether you need a third-party review of your Wildlife Management Plan, integration of wildlife risks into your SMS framework, or a strategic workshop for executives on risk visibility and decision-making, we can help ensure your organization is not only compliant - but resilient.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation or plan review. Let’s make sure nature remains a neighbour, not a liability.