Bird Patrol? Wynn Las Vegas using trained raptors to protect guests from pigeons

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — At a resort, there’s not much a security guard or pool attendant can do when pigeons and other nuisance birds swoop down or swarm around guest areas to peck at food.

That’s why Wynn Las Vegas is implementing a new kind of security to keep these pesky birds from running "afowl."

Wynn Resorts says that it’s using trained raptors to keep these kinds of birds away from the Las Vegas resort’s pool and outdoor dining areas.

Raptors, or ‘birds of prey,’ describe various species of birds that all share common characteristics.

These birds all have hooked beaks, strong feet with sharp talons, keen eyesight and are meat eaters, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

As for their use at Wynn Las Vegas, the resort says that they present an “environmentally friendly and humane approach” to deter nuisance birds from entering areas where food is served.

According to Wynn Resorts, the mere presence of a raptor frightens these birds naturally.

A trained falconer monitors the resort’s raptor program. Raptors are present in these areas of the property only during peak outdoor dining hours.