Key Takeaways
- Researchers have discovered a way to use sound as a harmless deterrent to keep cats away from nesting native birds.
- Feral cats are averse to the sound of human voices, while domestic cats are averse to the sound of other cats.
- The sound deterrent is played at 60 decibels and features non-aggressive human speech.
- The research aims to create a non-lethal deterrent for cats and to engage the community in protecting native birds.
- The sound cues can deflect a proportion of cats, but it’s not a solution that will work for all of them.
Introduction to the Research Project
A research project has made a groundbreaking discovery in using sound as a harmless deterrent to keep cats away from nesting native birds. The project, led by senior scientist Patrick Garvey at the Bioeconomy Science Institute, aims to create a non-lethal deterrent for cats, both feral and domestic. Feral cats were recently added to the Predator Free 2050 target species list, but domestic cats remain a beloved part of many New Zealand households. With no official estimate of the number of feral cats in New Zealand, the research project seeks to find an effective solution to protect native birds from these predators.
The Idea Behind the Research
The idea for the research was born from a similar trial in Canada in 2016, which used the sound of dogs barking to successfully deter raccoons. Garvey’s team was granted funding through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to carry out similar tests in New Zealand, targeting cats. Through trial and error, they found that feral cats were most averse to the sound of human voices, while domestic cats were most averse to the sound of other cats. This discovery led to the development of a sound deterrent that can be used to protect native birds from feral cats.
The Testing Process
The testing process involved placing 22 feral cats inside a fenced enclosure, along with four samples of mince, one in each corner. One sample would be randomly selected to be ‘protected’ by a specific sound, and when an approaching cat was detected by a camera, a sound would play through a speaker. The results showed that 40 percent of cats avoided food protected by the sound of other cats and dogs barking, but 70 percent avoided the sound of human voices. In contrast, testing in urban environments showed that domestic cats were most averse to the sound of other cats and didn’t mind human voices.
The Sound Deterrent
The sound deterrent is played at 60 decibels, which is equivalent to a human voice that can be heard from about 20 meters away. The sound features non-aggressive human speech, including a storybook reading and an interview with famed jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie. The researchers chose this type of sound to avoid alarming passers-by or becoming too grating for the person setting it up. The sound deterrent is a tool in the toolbox for protecting native birds from feral cats, and it can be used to engage the community and educate them on the damage that roaming cats can do.
Future Applications
The next step for the researchers is to try to protect colony breeding birds near braided rivers from feral cats. They are also working with Auckland Council to put out speakers in another reserve. More research is needed to determine just how effective the sound deterrent can be in practice. However, the researchers are optimistic that it can provide a useful tool for protecting native birds and engaging the community in conservation efforts. As Garvey said, "The sound cues will deflect a proportion of the cats – it’ll be more than a third of them, but it’s not going to do all of them." The sound deterrent is not a solution that will work for all cats, but it can be a useful addition to the toolbox for protecting native birds.