Get Off My Runway! 

Piper looks out onto a snowy runway at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan. Through his safety goggles, he spies what he’s been searching for: the small, gleaming eyes of a red fox. Piper is off in a flash, sprinting toward the animal. He easily scares the fox away.

Piper is different from most airport security guards. He’s a furry, 8-year-old border collie! The dog keeps runways clear of wild animals so that planes can take off and land safely. 

It’s an important job. Wildlife strikes, or collisions between airplanes and animals, damage planes and hurt or kill wildlife. Usually, passengers don’t notice collisions, and planes land safely. But wildlife strikes cause about $900 million in damage each year. 

To prevent these accidents, some airports employ dogs like Piper to chase animals away. Scientists and airport staff may also step in to shoo creatures away from runways. 

Piper looks out onto a snowy runway. It’s at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan. He looks through his safety goggles. Then he spots something: a small red fox. Piper is off in a flash. He sprints toward the animal. He easily scares the fox away.

Piper isn’t like most airport guards. He’s a furry 8-year-old border collie! The dog keeps runways clear of wild animals. That allows planes to take off and land safely. 

It’s an important job. Wildlife strikes happen when airplanes and animals crash into each other. Strikes damage planes and hurt or kill wildlife. Passengers don’t usually notice these crashes. And planes land safely. But wildlife strikes cause about $900 million in damage each year. 

Some airports hire dogs like Piper to chase animals away. Scientists and airport staff may also help shoo creatures away from runways. 

One airport that attracts a lot of wildlife is John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York City. It’s one of the busiest travel hubs in the U.S. It’s also right next to a body of water called Jamaica Bay (see Airport Ecosystem). 

This past summer, JFK had to delay flights because of an unusually slow problem: Turtles were crossing the runway! Every year, female terrapin turtles lay eggs in the marshes around Jamaica Bay. 

“Pilots called in and said, ‘We’ve got a terrapin on the runway!’” says Laura Francoeur. She’s the chief wildlife biologist at JFK.

John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York City attracts a lot of wildlife. It’s one of the busiest travel hubs in the U.S. It’s also right next to a body of water called Jamaica Bay (see Airport Ecosystem). 

JFK had to delay flights this past summer because of a slow problem. Turtles were crossing the runway! Terrapin turtles lay eggs in the marshes around Jamaica Bay every year. 

“Pilots called in and said, ‘We’ve got a terrapin on the runway!’” says Laura Francoeur. She’s the chief wildlife biologist at JFK.

When airport workers see a turtle, Francoeur’s team scoops it up. They take the turtle to an airport lab, where they record its size, its age, and what it’s eaten. This data could help reveal why turtles are drawn to JFK. Once the scientists have studied a turtle, they release it back into Jamaica Bay.  

More and more turtles have been turning up at JFK. Francoeur isn’t sure why, but she has a hunch. The turtles may be drawn to a nearby marsh full of their favorite prey, like crabs and snails.

If airport workers find a turtle, Francoeur’s team picks it up. They take the turtle to an airport lab. There they record its size, its age, and what it’s eaten. This data could help reveal why turtles are drawn to JFK. Then the scientists release the turtle into Jamaica Bay.  

More and more turtles have been turning up at JFK. Francoeur isn’t sure why. But she has a hunch. The turtles may be drawn to a nearby marsh. It’s full of their favorite foods, like crabs and snails.

Most airports don’t have dogs like Piper. It takes months of training before a pup is ready to work next to huge, noisy planes. But Piper’s situation is special. His owner, Brian Edwards, is in charge of preventing wildlife strikes at Cherry Capital Airport. Edwards trained Piper to work by his side. 

Border collies like Piper have helped people herd farm animals for more than a hundred years. That means Piper has an instinct for his job. He has herded birds, skunks, and a family of foxes off airport grounds.

“He could be deep asleep, but if I say, ‘Want to go get those ducks?’ he’s up in an instant,” says Edwards. “It doesn’t get better than working with your best friend!”

Most airports don’t have dogs like Piper. A pup needs months of training to work next to huge, noisy planes. But Piper’s situation is special. His owner is Brian Edwards. He’s in charge of stopping wildlife strikes at Cherry Capital Airport. Edwards trained Piper to work by his side. 

Border collies like Piper have a long history of working alongside people. They’ve helped herd farm animals for more than a hundred years. That means Piper has an instinct for his job. He has herded birds, skunks, and a family of foxes off airport grounds.

“He could be deep asleep, but if I say, ‘Want to go get those ducks?’ he’s up in an instant,” says Edwards. “It doesn’t get better than working with your best friend!”