The grazing herd at O'Hare International is comprised of more than 40 goats, sheep, llamas, burros and alpacas from Settlers Pond, an animal rescue facility in Beecher, Illinois. This is the third straight year the herd assisted in managing vegetation in a sustainable manner at the world's busiest airfield.
Goats: The landscapers —
The grazing herd at O'Hare International is comprised of more than 40 goats, sheep, llamas, burros and alpacas from Settlers Pond, an animal rescue facility in Beecher, Illinois. This is the third straight year the herd assisted in managing vegetation in a sustainable manner at the world's busiest airfield.
Courtesy Chicago Department of Aviation
Portland International Airport also uses goats to maintain vegetation, and a llama to protect the goats from coyotes.
Llamas: The bodyguards —
Portland International Airport also uses goats to maintain vegetation, and a llama to protect the goats from coyotes.
Courtesy Chicago Department of Aviation
For years, Manchester Airport had a mascot in the form of Olly, a one-eared tabby cat that wandered into the airport one day and called it home.
Cats: The mascots —
For years, Manchester Airport had a mascot in the form of Olly, a one-eared tabby cat that wandered into the airport one day and called it home.
Courtesy Manchester Airport
Therapy dogs from Los Angeles International Airport's PUP program (Pups Unstressing Passengers) give fliers something to smile about at the airport.
Dogs: The therapists —
Therapy dogs from Los Angeles International Airport's PUP program (Pups Unstressing Passengers) give fliers something to smile about at the airport.
Kathy Goodwin/Courtesy LAWA
In the United States alone, there are nearly 14,000 bird strikes each year. Falcon Environmental Services is one company that uses falcons to direct birds away from planes during the critical moments of takeoff and landing.
Falcons: The air traffic controllers —
In the United States alone, there are nearly 14,000 bird strikes each year. Falcon Environmental Services is one company that uses falcons to direct birds away from planes during the critical moments of takeoff and landing.
Courtesy Falcon Environmental Services/Mark Adam
Israeli security firm Tamar Group has developed an explosives and drugs detection system, named Bio Explorer, using mice. An airport scanner-style unit houses three concealed chambers, each containing eight mice.
Mice: The security agents —
Israeli security firm Tamar Group has developed an explosives and drugs detection system, named Bio Explorer, using mice. An airport scanner-style unit houses three concealed chambers, each containing eight mice.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Researchers from Germany's University of Giessen found that honeybees could be trained to detect drugs. Research published in <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.plos.org%2Fplosone%2Farticle%3Fid%3D10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0128528" target="_blank" target="_blank">Plos One</a> discovered that the bees could be trained to fly away from the smell given off by narcotics.
Bees: The anti-drug wardens —
Researchers from Germany's University of Giessen found that honeybees could be trained to detect drugs. Research published in Plos One discovered that the bees could be trained to fly away from the smell given off by narcotics.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images