美國一機場壕擲7500美金購驅鳥犬

Yeager Airport in West Virginia has added a helpful new member to the team, an 18-month-old border collie named Hercules.

西維吉尼亞州的耶格爾機場近日新增了一名得力助手：一隻名叫赫拉克勒斯的18個月大的邊境牧羊犬。

The pup has been hired to chase birds and other animals off the runway -- a problem that has been a concern for the airport.

這隻小狗被僱來驅趕飛機跑道上的鳥類以及其他動物--這是一直困擾該機場的問題。

"Every airport has problems with bird strikes and wildlife on the airfield. It's a big safety hazard, so a dog can be a real predator," Nick Keller, assistant director at Yeager, said to WV Metro News. "It will keep birds, deer, coyotes, rabbits away from the airfield."

耶格爾機場的助理主任尼克·凱勒向《西維吉尼亞地鐵新聞報》透露：“每個機場都有鳥類襲擊和機場坪野生動物的問題。這是一個很大的安全隱患，而犬類作爲捕食性很強的動物，可以讓這些鳥、鹿、土狼、兔子等動物遠離機場。”

Keller said the dog could potentially reduce deadly animal collisions once trained.

凱勒表示，這隻狗狗經過專門訓練後可能會減少致命的動物撞擊。

Hercules is currently being trained in North Carolina on a range of verbal and whistle commands, WV Metro News reported.

據《西維吉尼亞地鐵新聞報》報道，赫拉克勒斯目前正在北卡羅來納州接受一系列的口頭和哨令訓練。

Yeager staff must also be trained to handle Hercules while he is at work. Hercules will be outfitted with a reflective vest, safety glasses and ear protection.

在赫拉克勒斯工作期間，耶格爾機場的員工也必須受訓去指揮它。赫拉克勒斯將配備反光背心、護目鏡和耳罩。

Hercules was recommended to Keller by a U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife biologist, the news outlet reports. However, the dog did not come cheap. Yeager Airport reportedly paid $7,500 for Hercules.

據新聞媒體報道，赫拉克勒斯是美國農業部野生生物學家向凱勒推薦的。但是這隻狗狗並不便宜。據報道，耶格爾機場爲赫拉克勒斯支付了7500美元。