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Meet airport’s secret K9 weapon against a safety issue that is for the birds…

Posted at 12:35 PM, Feb 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-24 15:18:09-05

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Have an issue with birds? Here is how one Michigan airport handles the problem.

Meet Piper, the airport K9.

Courtesy: AirportK9.org

Courtesy: AirportK9.org

Cherry Capital Airport said the Federal Aviation Administration requires it to have a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan to take care of wildlife hazards to the planes and flights.

The airport said the plan calls for a number of methods including lights/sirens, pyrotechnics, traps, habitat modification and dogs; that’s where Piper comes in.

Though rare, dogs are one of the most effective methods of wildlife mitigation at airports, according to the Michigan airport.

Officials said K9 Piper is a “proactive approach to wildlife management and aviation safety.”

He is the only Wildlife Control K9 on staff at an airport in Michigan and the airport said it believes he is one of less than 10 in the United States.

See the full story here.