Border Collies Keep Charleston Airport Safe

At West Virginia International Yeager Airport, two border collies named Hercules and Ned work full‑time to keep planes clear of wildlife. They patrol the airfield from early morning until late afternoon, chasing birds and small animals away before flights take off or land. The dogs were hired because of their natural herding instincts and strong endurance in hot and cold weather. The threat from wildlife strikes has grown over the past decades. The Federal Aviation Administration recorded more than 313, 000 incidents between 1990 and 2024, with 22, 372 collisions reported in 2024 alone. Since Hercules joined the team in 2018 and Ned followed in 2024, the airport’s reported bird strikes have dropped by more than 70 percent. Only one minor incident—a grackle brushing past a plane—has been logged in the last year. Hercules’ background is notable. He was trained at a North Carolina dog‑training center and had previously worked at an airport in Michigan, where he chased over 9, 000 birds. After Hercules slowed down with age, the airport brought in Ned to keep the workload steady. Both dogs live on site in a white kennel area decorated with their pictures and military patches that visitors can buy at the gift shop.Their daily routine starts before sunrise. The handler, a wildlife specialist, feeds them and checks their gear in a small office. By 7:30 a. m. , the dogs are loaded into an SUV and driven onto the runway. They run along taxiways, perimeter paths, and the main runway, covering about five miles each day. The handler calls the tower to confirm their presence and keeps an eye on weather patterns that might attract birds. During spring, when migratory flocks arrive, the dogs tackle large groups of crows and starlings. In summer, they deal with fewer birds but still watch for deer or other mammals that could collide with aircraft. In the fall, raptors like hawks and owls become more common, adding another layer of danger. The handler instructs the dogs to lie down when a plane is on the runway, preventing any sudden bird movements. The dogs also serve as therapy animals for passengers and crew. They wear pilot hats and patches, greet travelers at gates, and even appear in social media posts that have gathered tens of thousands of followers. Their popularity has turned them into local celebrities, with merchandise and plush toys sold at the airport. Overall, the presence of Hercules and Ned has made Charleston’s airfield safer while giving travelers a friendly face. Their work demonstrates how animal skills can complement human efforts in aviation safety.