To protect passengers .. the San Francisco metro uses a falcon

 Subway commuters in California's San Francisco Bay Area have likely noticed a new guard at the station in recent months.

It's the five-year-old Pac-Man they put at El Cerrito del Norte station not to catch fare evaders, but to frighten pigeons.

Ricky Ortiz, a Falcon Force falconer who trains Pac-Man, began patrolling the station this summer, as part of a contract with the San Francisco Bay Rapid Transit System to keep pigeons out and protect passengers from dropping their droppings.

The team patrols three days a week, beginning their day at the basement entrance before spreading to the docks, intimidating any pigeons trying to relax on the station's interior ledges or scaffolding.

Ortiz said he's noticed a big difference since starting his career.

"Maybe the number of pigeons is less than half compared to the number a week ago when we started our work," he added.

Ortiz tries to stop Pac-Man from eating pigeons or rodents and gives him snacks throughout the day to keep him happy at work.

Even now, Pac-Man has been admired by metro riders.

Ryder Bethany Campbell, 43, took a selfie with Ortiz and Pac-Man to send to her family.

Campbell said she was terrified when she first saw the falcon but now thinks it's cool.

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