Biologists are using drones to scare wolves away from cattle
Drones, Rock Music, and Hollywood Clips: A New Way to Keep Wolves Away from Livestock
For centuries, humans have struggled to keep wolves away from their livestock. Traditional methods included guard dogs, traps, and patrols — but now technology has given ranchers a new tool: drones armed with loudspeakers. Along the California–Oregon border, a team of biologists is experimenting with flying machines that blast rock music, movie scenes, and even human voices to scare wolves away from cattle.
One of the drones’ most dramatic soundtracks? AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.” In other instances, audio clips from the 2019 film Marriage Story echo across the fields, with Scarlett Johansson shouting, “I am not putting up with this anymore!” and Adam Driver retorting, “With what? I can’t talk to people?” The unusual mix of music and dialogue appears to spook the predators and interrupt their hunts.
Wolves on the Comeback Trail
The gray wolf once roamed across much of North America, but by the mid-20th century, relentless hunting and government predator control programs nearly eradicated them from the western United States. Their story began to change in the mid-1990s, when wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone National Park and Idaho. Since then, populations have rebounded. Today, wolves number in the thousands across the Great Lakes region, with hundreds in Washington and Oregon, and smaller but growing packs in northern California.
This recovery has sparked renewed conflicts between wolves and ranchers, whose cattle often become prey. According to a 2022 Associated Press review, gray wolves killed about 800 livestock animals across 10 states in one year alone. Ranchers have experimented with numerous strategies, from electrified fencing and alarm systems to horseback patrols and relocation programs. In regions where such methods fail, authorities sometimes approve lethal control.
A Non-Lethal Solution in the Skies
Enter the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, whose scientists have been testing a high-tech approach: drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and loudspeakers. Because wolves are most active at night, drones can monitor herds in the dark and immediately intervene if predators approach.
Initial studies suggest that playing human voices and unpredictable sounds through drones can disrupt wolf behavior. “If we could reduce those negative impacts of wolves, that is going to be more likely to lead to a situation where we have coexistence,” said Dustin Ranglack, the USDA’s lead researcher on the project.
So far, the drone arsenal includes recordings of fireworks, gunshots, heavy metal songs, and random movie clips. If preloaded sounds don’t work, drone pilots can improvise — yelling into microphones or choosing alternative tracks. One favorite among operators is Five Finger Death Punch’s cover of “Blue on Black,” which sometimes sends wolves fleeing with the line: “You turned and you ran.”
How Well Does It Work?
In summer patrols along the Oregon–California border, researchers documented multiple successful interruptions of wolf hunts. The technology was even tested farther south in California’s Sierra Valley, marking the first time drones were deployed in that region.
The early results are promising. Ranchers who hosted drone patrols say livestock deaths have gone down. “I’m very appreciative of what they did,” said Mary Rickert, a rancher north of Mount Shasta. “But I don’t think it’s a long-term solution. What I’m afraid of is that wolves will eventually learn it’s just noise and no danger.”
Challenges and Costs
The drones aren’t cheap. A single unit with night vision and loudspeaker capability costs around $20,000 and requires skilled operators. Forested areas also limit their effectiveness, making them less practical for ranchers in heavily wooded terrain.
Still, advocates for wolf conservation are cautiously optimistic. “Wolves are frightened of novel things,” said Amaroq Weiss of the Center for Biological Diversity. “People think of wolves as fearless predators, but in reality, they can be startled by unexpected sounds.”
The Future of Coexistence
While some ranchers want more lethal options to defend their herds, others hope that non-lethal tools like drones can reduce conflict and promote coexistence between wolves and people. For now, the experiments continue — and each night, somewhere along the California–Oregon border, wolves are being driven away by heavy metal riffs, fireworks, and even the voice of a drone pilot yelling:
“Hey wolf — get out of here!”