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Australian Fence of Sound Halves Roadkill On One Deadly Stretch of Road (digitaltrends.com)
Researchers in the Australian state of Tasmania are using a "virtual fence" system, consisting of alarm units mounted on posts along the side of a three-mile stretch of road, to reduce the number animals that get struck and killed by cars on a particularly deadly stretch of road. "These alarm units, around 80 feet apart, emit sounds and flashing lights to warn animals when a car is approaching," reports Digital Trends. "These do not distract drivers because the sound and light are directed to the edge of the road. They are also only loud and bright enough to be noticeable to wildlife in the immediate vicinity." From the report: "The virtual fence technology involves small devices, approximately the size of a mobile phone, mounted on a pole on the side of the road which are triggered by car headlights when they hit a sensor in the device," Samantha Fox, the researcher who led the project, told Digital Trends. "This sets off blue and yellow flashing lights and a high pitched siren. These together warn local wildlife that a car is coming, and give the animal time to move away from the road." Over the course of a three-year trial, the technology has reduced roadkill on one particular road by a massive 50 percent. On this stretch of road alone, this has meant saving the lives of around 200 animals, ranging from wombats to possums.
But finally, Samantha Fox and headlights in a news article, meant something entirely different.
In more serious matters, I've driven in Tasmania and I can confirm without question, I've never seen so much roadkill in my life. So much so it was disturbing and creepy for my girlfriend and I. At least 20 dead things a day there, maybe twice that and we weren't driving very fast either.
Why does slashdot link to a paywall, and "digitasltrends" crap?
Here is a proper link. This program is not for the wombats and possums, but for the endangered Tasmanian devils that feed on their carcasses.
https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/wild...
they are awful to hit, Kangaroos have such a low center of gravity they do a lot of damage unless you have a bulbar (even then that doesn't always help, last year a big 7 footer bent his bulbar back into the bonnet). Wombats (or walking rocks as we refer to them) can also do huge damage.
A big problem with roadkill in Tasmania is that Tasmanian devils are attracted to the carcasses. As they feed on the roadkill, they are nearly oblivious to oncoming traffic. You might think this will exert evolutionary pressure for them to become less stupid, but that doesn't work because they are few in number and have very little genetic variety. The are all nearly identical twins of each other. So similar that cancer cells can be transmitted directly between individuals with no immune rejection.
Tasmanian devil road mortality
Americans are familiar with Tasmanian devils mainly through Taz, an occasional character in the Bugs Bunny Roadrunner Hour. Why don't they make quality TV like that anymore?
Australian Fence of Sound Halves Roadkill
And I started out thinking it was a safety measure to prevent cars from hitting animals by cutting the animals in half before the cars come near. I was expecting lasers or Army NewGen sonic weapons or something. Instead: "small devices ... mounted on a pole on the side of the road."
Well, I guess with an amp cranked up to 11 they might could still manage it.
If the universe is someone's simulation -- does that mean the stars are just stuck pixels?
You left out, Hate to break it to ya,mate,but...
WARNING: Smartphones have side effects--most of them undocumented.
I remember as a kid seeing a picture of a real Tasmanian Devil for the first time.
I just shook my head because it doesn't look anything like Taz. I can't really blame WB for making a cartoon version of an animal that isn't entirely accurate. After all, what animal looks like Bugs Bunny, but I was a bit let down upon seeing a picture in a book.
This might work with Australia's smarter wildlife. But a similar technology used in the USA, involving illuminated signs at intersections with a big red hand have no effect the hobos.
Have gnu, will travel.
I remember as a kid seeing a picture of a real Tasmanian Devil for the first time.
They got their name because of the terrible noises they make at night.
Devils are nocturnal, rarely seen (alive) but were often heard.
Since it IS Texas, I've come to realize one reason why so many drive the oversized pickups.
Reason or rationalisation? The leading cause of death from deer is when drivers swerve to avoid them, and SUVs are more prone to rolling and killing the occupants, as well as safer in a direct impact with deer or smaller car.
But the result is that SUVs in Texas are a far, far greater menace on the roads than the wildlife.