Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
July 2002
Abstract
Each year Wildlife Services (WS), a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, disperses several million birds because of safety, health, and property damage concerns. To successfully disperse large numbers of birds, WS employs a combination of nonlethal measures, including the use of pyrotechnics, sound cannons, and other noisemakers. While these measures are effective, WS is constantly researching new means for resolving wildlife damage in order to give program specialists more options for addressing wildlife conflicts. The latest tool in WS’ toolbox of resources is the low-powered laser, effective in dispersing a variety of bird species. Researchers at WS’ National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) have demonstrated the usefulness of lasers in dispersing birds in a number of different environments.