The Monster Wolf scares away any unwanted creatures from farmlands and other human territories. (Image Credit: Wolf Kamuy)
This should be a regular Halloween yard decoration.
Japan has come up with a clever way to keep predators at bay from its landscapes. An eerie voice booms at 60 dB, “You’re not getting away with this!” from Monster Wolf, a scarecrow-like device developed by Ohta Seiki. With its glowing red LED eyes and mechanical swiveling neck, the synthetic wolf scans the lands for any unwelcome pests, like wild boars, monkeys, deer, and bears, which may try to enter human territory. Deer and boars have been known to damage agricultural produce. Meanwhile, a bear or monkey wandering into human territory can lead to dangerous encounters.
So far, the Monster Wolf, made of a sturdy and durable iron pipe, has worked effectively, and nobody returned the product due to dissatisfaction. Approximately 180 Monster Wolves are installed across Japan to scare away creatures, and the artificial wolf can be deployed near railroad crossings, highway entrances, and golf courses. It’s also more cost-effective to use these machines rather than exterminating the problem.
The machine uses a speaker and red glowing LEDs to repel wild animals. (Image Credit: Wolf Kamuy)
However, some drawbacks may still arise. For example, although the lights and noise may startle wildlife, they can adapt to it. When the creature learns the artificial wolf doesn’t harm them, they may ignore it. But repositioning the wolf every so often should help prevent others from getting adjusted to its presence. Videos recorded by the Monster Wolf’s creators show the animals start leaving in a hurry after the Monster Wolf flashes its eyes or blasts its voice. Interestingly, bears in the Japanese in the Japanese archipelago never encountered a wolf before.
The device, running on a 12V car battery and solar panel to save energy, features an infrared sensor to detect the approaching wild animal. Additionally, it produces a wide range of loud noises, including howls, barking dogs, and gunshots (up to 90 dB) that can reach 1km. While it has red LED eyes, the wolf’s tail and legs blink blue to repel wild animals. Overall, the blue blinking LED on the lower limbs helps to maximize its threatening appearance. Users can even control when to start and stop the device, thanks to the built-in timer.
The machine has gained global attention and interest from ten countries. It may even be useful for deterring jackals in South Africa or bears in Alaska. However, the Monster Wolf isn’t available for international installations because it requires a specific setup.
Ohta Seiki is now working with leading automotive firms and academics to improve Monster Wolf. The company wants to incorporate GPS-enabled autonomous navigation so that the machine can deter unwanted creatures and scout areas known for wildlife encroachment.
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