Connect with us

Canada

Canada uses drones to drive away geese near Ottawa

Updated

 on

[caption id="attachment_69138" align="aligncenter" width="634"]Going in for the kill: The hexacopter swoops down towards a geese hanging out by the beach. Since deploying the drones, the number of geese in the area has dropped from hundreds to a few dozen Going in for the kill: The hexacopter swoops down towards a geese hanging out by the beach. Since deploying the drones, the number of geese in the area has dropped from hundreds to a few dozen[/caption]

Drones Break Up "Fowl" Crowds in Canada

 

Once only a bane to jihadists and drug-runners, drones are now employed to disperse unwanted waterfowl. Canada's capital of Ottawa—frustrated by the persistent presence of geese at its public beaches—adopted an innovative, non-lethal method of chasing the birds away. Refitting a remote-controlled hobby aircraft for this purpose, Steve Wambolt deploys his "hexicopter" each morning to annoy and harass the Canada geese with the sounds of their natural predators emitting from its speakers. After unsuccessful efforts to control the population with canines, decoys and putrid odors, the Ottawa city council thinks it now may have found the answer to its goose problem.

Wambolt's goose management business has a serendipitous origin. A remote aerial photographer, hemarketed his services to a city councilman, who asked him if the drone had alternative uses that might assist in dispatching the crowds of geese. Goose droppings are a source of e coli bacteria concentrations, spreading disease among wildlife and humans. Taking this cue, Wambolt replaced his cameras with speakers, sending the flying menace to badger the birds. It worked. The goose population is reduced substantially at Petrie Island beach, an area that was previously closed to the public because of the health hazard.

Mike is a Thunder Bay based writer, and has been working part-time for eCanadNow since May of 2010. Mike mostly covers sci/tech stories as well as entertainment news.

Prior to his work writing and editing for eCanadaNow, he worked in sales and marketing.

In addition to his work at eCanadNow, Jim has contributed to several other sites, including Examiner.com and joystiq.com.

You can email Mike at {Mike at ecanadanow.com]

Canada

Top 5 Reasons to Visit the Cabot Trail This Summer

Updated

 on

Continue Reading

Advertiser Disclosure: ECanadaNow is committed to rigorous editorial standards to provide our readers with accurate information. We may receive compensation when you click on links to products we reviewed.