Can bird deterrent lasers also deter feral pigs and wild rabbits? Farmers are reporting surprising results!
We have always know that that the Hawk Laser, HBX Pro Hawk Laser and Ultimate Lasers are terrific for deterring birds from crops but haverecently received feedback from 2 seperate customers talking about how they have not only had great success using our lasers for bird control but have had the added benefit of deterring feral pigs (boar) and wild rabbits! This is a huge benefit for farmers!
REVIEW FROM CASALI’S IN MAREEBA:
“We purchase the Hawk Lasers and on sell to our Ag customers in Cairns region and have had great feedback on the Hawk Laser deterring wild pigs. The farmer has let us know he specifically uses it at dusk and dawn and it has kept the wild pigs away. This is brilliant considering he originally purchased it to deter birds but has had this fantastic advantage.
Thank you for your ongoing support.”
REVIEW FROM YARRA RICH FARMS:
“We have been using the Hawk Laser for several years now and it has been brilliant. We have primarily used it to deter ducks, but an added bonus has been that it also helps deter cockatoos and even RABBITS! We’ve been very happy with the results and would definitely recommend it.”
Wild boars and wild rabbits cause severe, costly destruction to farms and crops through intensive foraging, digging, and breeding habits.
Wild boars also pose a disease risk to livestock as they can prey on newborn lambs whilst rabbits overgraze pastures and dig and burrrow, destabilising the soil, causing severe topsoil erosion and land degradation.
Why might a laser affect other wildlife?
The exact reason different animals respond to a moving laser beam is an interesting area for further observation.
Laser deterrents are primarily designed and marketed for bird control, and animal responses can vary depending on the species, environment and individual circumstances.
The experiences reported by our customers therefore shouldn’t be interpreted as a guarantee that a laser will deter feral pigs or rabbits in every situation.
However, the fact that two independent customers have reported similar observations is certainly worth investigating.
It also highlights something we love about working with customers in real-world agricultural environments: sometimes they discover applications for a product that we hadn’t anticipated.
Why this could be significant for farmers
Farmers rarely have just one pest problem.
A property might experience bird damage during one season, rabbit activity throughout the year and feral pig incursions at another time.
Traditional pest management can therefore involve multiple strategies and products.
The possibility of one deterrent system contributing to the management of more than one unwanted species could be particularly appealing where farmers are already using a laser for bird control.
Instead of thinking of a bird laser purely as a bird deterrent, these customer experiences raise the possibility that it may have broader applications in agricultural wildlife management.
A humane approach to pest deterrence
One of the reasons laser deterrents are attractive to many farmers is that they are designed to deter rather than harm wildlife.
The objective is to make an area less attractive to unwanted animals and encourage them to move elsewhere.
For bird control, this can provide an alternative to methods that involve trapping, poisoning or physically removing birds.
As with any wildlife deterrent, the most appropriate solution will depend on the species, environment and specific circumstances of the property.
What our customers are telling us
The most exciting part of this discovery is that it has come directly from farmers and landholders using the technology in the field.
We are always interested in hearing how customers are using our products and what they are experiencing after installation.
These two reports have prompted us to look more closely at the potential for laser deterrents to influence the behaviour of other unwanted wildlife.
And we’d love to hear from more farmers.
Have you noticed rabbits or feral pigs avoiding an area protected by a laser?
If you already use a Bird Control Australia laser and have noticed changes in rabbit or feral pig activity, we’d love to hear about your experience.
Your observations could help us better understand this unexpected potential application of laser deterrent technology.
Could bird lasers have a bigger role in agricultural pest management?
At Bird Control Australia, our focus has always been on finding effective, practical and humane ways to manage pest birds.
But these recent customer experiences have opened up an intriguing new question:
Could laser deterrents have applications beyond bird control?
We don’t have all the answers yet, but we’re certainly interested in finding out.
For now, what we know is that two independent customers have reported successful bird deterrence alongside an unexpected reduction in wild rabbit and feral pig activity.
And that is a development worth watching.
If you’re a farmer dealing with pest birds, rabbits or feral pigs and would like to discuss whether a laser deterrent could be suitable for your property, contact the Bird Control Australia team for advice on selecting the right solution for your application.
Bird Control Australia – Australian specialists in humane bird and wildlife deterrent solutions.
You can learn more about the destructive nature of feral pigs and wild rabbits via the youtube links below:
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_xGQAKwbVk&t=1s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ScN325knik
