St. Cloud Airport Gets Permission To Use Firearms For Animal Control

ST. CLOUD -- Officials at St. Cloud Regional Airport can now use guns to help control wildlife that pose a safety risk to flights.  That, after city council members approved the measure this week.

Airport Director Bill Towle says they use several different means to control the animals on the airport grounds.  Towle says oftentimes they scare the birds and other animals off.  But sometimes they need to be able to use firearms.

Staff have used what he describes as a "grid" to keep the birds from using the holding ponds.  And, fencing around the property has nearly eliminated the deer population from the grounds.

Towle says they are required by the FAA to provide animal control to keep planes safe from encounters with animals.

Towle cites the "Miracle on the Hudson" where geese flew into the engines, causing the plane to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River.