USDA Drones Use Movie Scenes, Sounds to Deter Wolves

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is using drones with loudspeakers to deter wolves from attacking livestock in the American West, broadcasting alarming sounds such as AC/DC’s 'Thunderstruck,' fireworks, gunshots, and the explosive argument scene from the 2019 film 'Marriage Story' featuring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. This 'wolf hazing' strategy aims to make wolves associate humans with danger. The approach was adopted after a rise in wolf attacks following their reintroduction to Yellowstone and is necessary due to legal protections on wolves. In southern Oregon, this method reduced cattle deaths from 11 in 20 days to just two in the subsequent 85 days. The creative use of intense movie scenes and harsh sounds highlights innovative, non-lethal wildlife management. However, experts caution that wolves may eventually become habituated to these deterrents.