Source: The Guardian
In an unconventional strategy to protect livestock without harming endangered grey wolves, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is using emotional audio from the film Marriage Story to deter wolves from approaching cattle. In Oregon’s Klamath Basin, officials deploy drones equipped with thermal cameras to detect wolves, then blast unsettling sounds—such as the film’s intense argument scenes between characters played by Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver—through loudspeakers to scare them away.
This method, known as “wolf hazing,” avoids lethal action and conditions wolves to associate humans with danger. Additional deterrents include fireworks, gunshots, and AC/DC’s Thunderstruck. The approach followed a spike in wolf attacks that killed 11 cows in 20 days. After drones began patrolling, only two cows were lost over the next 85 days. The method highlights a creative, humane approach to wildlife conflict management while showcasing how powerful human drama can unexpectedly influence the animal world.