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Airport Hunters
Zürich Airport, Switzerland
Some of the most pressing security threats at this busy hub aren’t on any intelligence agency’s watch list: they’re unpredictable birds, rabbits, and the occasional wild boar, who all have a tendency to fly or wander onto runways, running the risk of not only harming themselves but also damaging a plane’s engine, windshield, or fuselage. Three armed hunters patrol the airport’s wilder areas for any winged or four-legged interlopers. Zürich isn’t alone: Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is reportedly testing out a remote-controlled, robotic hawk to scare away winged interlopers, and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental has 800 volunteer horsemen who chase deer, coyotes, or roadkill-prone armadillos away from runways. Where to Spot Them: At Zürich Airport, the hunters can often be spotted in the nature reserve that sits between the two runways. At both Zürich and George Bush, the hunters and Rangers often wear orange vests; natch, the Rangers often add cowboy hats, too.
