More than 40 hares have been killed by aircraft at Dublin Airport over the past three years, prompting authorities to launch catch-and-release operations to relocate the animals to counties Wicklow and Kildare as part of broader wildlife management efforts.
The Dublin Airport Authority has also recorded 278 bird strikes during the same period, despite spending approximately €600,000 annually on deterrent measures designed to keep wildlife away from runways. Each relocation operation costs around €1,500, with 12 hares successfully captured and relocated during the first two months of this year alone.
Bird strikes pose serious safety risks to aviation, potentially causing engine failures and forcing pilots to abort takeoffs or landings. The data shows strikes more than doubled from 61 confirmed incidents in 2022 to 123 in 2023, before dropping to 85 last year. An additional eight strikes occurred in the first two months of 2025.
The airport employs trained professionals to implement bird-scaring techniques, including explosive cartridges that create loud noises to disperse flocks. These cartridges alone cost approximately €200,000 annually. A “long-grass” policy is also maintained to make airfields less attractive to certain bird species.
Recent incidents highlight the ongoing challenge. Last month, an Aer Lingus flight bound for New York was forced to return to Dublin after striking a flock of pigeons during ascent, with pilots reporting engine vibrations. The severity of such events was tragically demonstrated when 179 passengers died in a Jeju Air crash in South Korea following a suspected bird strike.
Dublin Airport Authority licensed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to conduct wildlife management operations, emphasizing that passenger safety remains their “key priority” while managing the complex balance between aviation safety and wildlife protection around one of Europe’s busiest airports.