Scientists use drones to scare wolves — here’s why
“AC/DC and Scarlett Johansson: USDA drones use sound and light to scare wolves away from cattle along the Oregon–California border.”
For centuries, farmers struggled to keep wolves away from livestock using fences, dogs, and human patrols. But now, technology is taking the fight to the skies.
Along the Oregon–California border, USDA biologists have been experimenting with drones fitted with thermal cameras, bright lights, and loudspeakers. Instead of bullets or traps, the aircraft unleash unexpected weapons: heavy metal riffs, explosions, fireworks, and even Scarlett Johansson’s heated lines from the film Marriage Story.
The strategy, called “hazing”, is designed to startle predators without harming them. Wolves on the hunt are interrupted by sudden blasts of AC/DC’s Thunderstruck, the thundering guitars of Five Finger Death Punch, or urgent shouts from drone pilots themselves. Early trials suggest the approach works: in monitored areas, livestock losses have dropped by more than 80%.
“It’s about coexistence,” says USDA lead researcher Dustin Ranglack. “If wolves associate cattle herds with strange, frightening experiences, they’re less likely to attack.”
Conservationists note that wolves, once nearly extinct in the American West, are now rebounding strongly, with thriving packs in Oregon, Washington, California, and the Rockies. That recovery has reignited long-running conflicts with ranchers, many of whom demand lethal control. Drones offer a compromise — protecting cattle while sparing wolves.
Still, questions remain. Wolves may eventually learn that the drones pose no real danger. The equipment is expensive, training is specialised, and wooded terrain limits effectiveness. But ranchers who have hosted patrols report fewer dead cattle and a bit more peace of mind.
As Paul Wolf, a USDA supervisor (appropriately named), recalls: “One wolf was chewing on a cow until I shouted through the drone: ‘Hey wolf — get out of here.’ It immediately bolted. That was a good day.”
Whether this high-tech hazing becomes a permanent solution or just a temporary fix, one thing is certain: in the battle of wolves versus ranchers, the soundtrack has never been louder.
