A border collie named Piper is one of the most important employees at an airport in the US.
Birds have been known to lurk on runways and then strike aircraft, potential causing damage to the plane – therefore all airports are required to have some kind of plan to rid runways of wildlife.
Most usually engage more traditional, technological methods such as traps, sirens or pyrotechnics.
But not in Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport, in Michigan.
Highly skilled
That duty falls on Piper, who, as a border collie, is highly skilled in the very important business of chasing birds and other wildlife from areas they do not belong.
Dressed in ski mask and boots, Piper has been trained to become accustomed to airport noise and wears specially designed doggy earmuffs to protect his hearing.
His specially designed vest allows him to be easily lifted and to keep him in check in the face of an interloper (he’s still a dog, after all).
It also carries his identification and a beacon so he can be seen, plus an emergency trauma kit – just in case.
Boots protect Piper’s paws from hot pavement and rocks and keeps snow and ice at bay during winter.
List of duties
The seven-year-old border collie works four 10-hour shifts a week, (with plenty of breaks, we’re assured). To date he’s chased 2450 birds away, and patrolled over 960 kilometres of airport turf.
Piper has a list of duties (we’re not sure if they come with a set of KPIs) which include checks for wildlife holes under the perimeter fence; to keep employees, tenants and visitors smiling; to respond to reports of wildlife; and to detect rodents and small mammals before birds of prey do.
Airport operations staff claim that using a dog to chase wildlife away is more effective as creatures such as the snowy owl who remember Piper don’t return.
However, every job does have its drawbacks, as Piper discovered last year when he suffered a fracture after chasing away a snowy owl.
His foot was placed in a cast and he was reassigned to a temporary position as Chief Morale Officer.
You can follow Piper’s progress on social media – Facebook , Instagram @airportk9 and online at www.airportk9.org
Read more here
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