Deer-activated bioacoustic frightening device deters white-tailed deer

Published source details Hildreth A.M., Hygnstrom S.E. & VerCauteren K.C. (2013) Deer-activated bioacoustic frightening device deters white-tailed deer. Human Wildlife Interactions, 7, 107-113.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use target species distress calls or signals to deter crop damage by mammals to reduce human-wildlife conflict Action Link

Use target species distress calls or signals to deter crop damage by mammals to reduce human-wildlife conflict

A replicated, randomized, controlled, before-and-after study in 2010 in a deciduous forest in Utah, USA (Hildreth et al. 2013) found that devices playing deer distress calls reduced white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus visits and food uptake. Sites with devices had 0 deer visits/day when devices were active (treatment period) compared to 273 visits/day with devices inactive (pre-treatment). Concurrently, sites without devices had 122 visits/day (treatment period) and 169 visits/day (pre-treatment). Food consumption by deer was lower at sites with devices during treatment (0 litres) than pre-treatment phases (2,175 l). At sites without devices, consumption during treatment (1,100 l) and pre-treatment phases (1,585 l) was similar. Six sites, >0.6 km apart, were each enclosed in a U-shaped fence, 18.3 m long. Three sites, selected randomly, had a deer-activated frightening device installed. This played deer distress calls when an infra-red beam was broken. Sites were baited with >38 l of alfalfa cubes in February 2010. Bait was topped up every second day. Deer visits were monitored using camera traps. Pre-treatment (device inactive) ran during 10–22 March 2010 while the treatment phase (device active) ran from 23 March to 4 April 2010.

(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)