At West Virginia International Yeager Airport, two border collies named Hercules and Ned have a unique job: keeping the skies safe by chasing wildlife off the runways. Each day, the energetic dogs patrol alongside their handler, helping prevent dangerous animal-plane collisions and ensuring smoother, safer flights for passengers.
8 year old Hercules has become a local celebrity and a calming presence inside the terminal. His younger counterpart, Ned, is eagerly following in his paw prints. Their instincts help scare off birds, bats, and even deer, without harming them—cutting down on costly delays and potential disasters. The airport’s mountaintop location makes wildlife encounters frequent, but with these two herding pros on duty, things stay under control. Passengers have even found comfort in Hercules’ friendly visits, proving his role extends far beyond safety. As air travel grows busier, Yeager’s four-legged team continues to make a big difference—one tail wag at a time.