The Alaska Department of Transportation has hired a unique candidate, Aurora, a four-legged robotic animal created by Boston Dynamics, to patrol Fairbanks International Airport.

Aurora’s task is to keep wildlife off the airport runways to enhance aviation safety and gather data on animal behavior.

Outfitted with coverings mimicking foxes and coyotes, Aurora will work alongside handlers and wildlife biologists.

With over 270,000 wildlife strikes reported between 1990 and 2022, the robot aims to mitigate such incidents, which cause significant damage annually, Scripps News reported.

Purchased with a grant, Aurora is expected to start operations in 2025 after initial testing, potentially setting a new standard in airport wildlife management.

Written by B.C. Begley