Bird strikes have been a serious problem at JFK, forcing planes to occasionally divert course and make emergency landings—just this week, a man captured one such bird strike on video. But it seems birds aren't the only animals that are dangerous: according to the Post, 99 rabbits and hares were shotgunned at JFK last year by "Elmer Fudd firing squads" comprised of Port Authority and USDA workers.
Rabbits have been blamed for three U.S. plane crashes over the last 30 years. It seems that a recent federal wildlife assessment of JFK recommends “regularly” killing Eastern cottontails and black-tailed jackrabbits “to decrease the prey base on the airfield.” “It’s open season at the airport to shoot rabbits,” said Steven Garber, a biologist and consultant for wildlife management at airports. Back in 2009, The City Birder got the inside scoop on jackrabbits living around JFK—they are rumored to have escaped from a shipment there over 50 years ago.
At least it sounds like they're trying not to kill them if they can help it: Port Authority recently invested in a $2,000 green laser called the “Avian Dissuader,” a light-beam that scares animals away before they need to be shot. While you try to get those images out of your head, go ahead and visit Brooklyn Bunny for a cleansing cute-ening.
