Though expensive metal detectors and armed security officers abound at all United States airports, airways are also turning to simpler measures to protect the approximate 769 million passengers who fly each year.

They employ dogs, whose hunting and herding abilities come as naturally to them as flying does to the birds.

Sky, a 1-year-old Border Collie, routinely frequents the Southwest Florida International Airport to help keep the birds at bay.

Sky helps prevent bird strikes, which can cause major damage to an aircraft. Birds can get sucked into an engine or hit a windshield with enough force to cause a pilot to lose control.

“To the birds, she’s the predator,” James Hess, Sky’s handler said. “She’s that coyote or wolf they’re used to seeing out in the wild.”

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