A Coalition To End Aerial Gunning of Wildlife
Biological Effects
-- Aerial Gunning Harms Wildlife:
U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers write, "in the Intermountain West,
preventive aerial hunting to protect livestock on summer pastures usually
occurs from January through March" (Wagner and Conover, 1999). According to
documents written by the USDA in Colorado, aerial gunning operations are
heavily concentrated in only a handful of counties (USDA 2005). Thus, aerial
gunning stresses certain wildlife populations over and again.
A synthesis article by Christopher Pepper et al. (2003) on aircraft overflights
suggests that noise pollution can stress animals and people, or damage hearing.
Moreover, helicopters (frequently used in aerial gunning operations) create
"severe low-frequency sound and vibration" (Ibid.). Noise levels depend on
several factors including physical barriers, distance, wind, humidity and
temperature (Ibid.).
Studies on wildlife affected by aircraft overflights show changes in cardiac
response, body temperature changes, flushing responses, and bird-aircraft
collisions. While some animals may habituate to noise -- especially if it is
not novel -- others do not (Ibid.). Many animals must rely on sound to find
food, to avoid predators, to reproduce, or find offspring (Ibid.).
Studies have shown that some animals flee when frightened -- especially
ungulates that have no cover for hiding such as caribou. The heart rate of
mountain sheep and desert mule deer have increased, and as a result, a flight
response is common and can require "the animal to expend large amounts of
energy to escape the perceived threat" (Ibid.). Pepper et al. add, "if there is
a short food supply, or if the animal is being stressed in other areas, then
there is a possibility for overflights to cause severe negative impacts on some
species" (Ibid.).
An earlier synthesis article came to similar conclusions. Low-level flights
over wild animals may cause physiological and/or behavioral responses that
reduce the animals' fitness, ability to survive, or ability to reproduce (U.S.
Department of Interior/National Park Service, 1995). It is believed that
low-altitude overflights can cause excessive arousal and alertness, or stress
(Ibid.). Chronic stress can compromise the general health of animals by
interfering with raising young, habitat use, and physiological energy budgets
(Ibid.).
Bibliography:
Pepper, C., M. Nascarella, and R. Kendall. 2003. A Review of the Effects of
Aircraft noise on wildlife and humans, current control mechanisms, and the need
for further study. 32 Environmental Management: 418-432.
US Department of the Interior/National Park Service. 1995. Report on the
Effects of Aircraft Overflights on the National Park System: Executive Summary
Report to Congress.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services. 2005. Final Environmental
Assessment: Predator Damage Management in Colorado.
Wagner, K. and M. Conover. 1999. Effect of preventive coyote hunting on sheep
losses to coyote predation. 63 Journal of Wildlife Management: 606-612.