Do acoustic deterrents
work? At last a serious question. Well let us begin with the proper terminology. The field of study is generally referred to as bio acoustics, and that fortunately is a field that, I might add with modesty, I have a reasonable degree of knowledge. Well not expertise with regard orca behavior in relation to specific signals. Manatees yes but not orcas.
However...thankfully...one need not have studied bioacoustics to have some idea of the subject matter. We are, after all, acoustic mammals.
Let’s begin with basics. Sound. We have amplitude, frequecy and time, duration.
Our reaction to sound is very interesting. The frequency of a baby crying. One could call it irritating but it’s perfect to bring attention. Amplitude is another thing we as mammals understand well. Raising your voice, an elephant trumpeting, Duration. The rhythmic beating of a human heart.
Now “deterrent”. Well that’s easy to understand. To prevent. Kinda nicer than force as if one is certain orcas can appreciate this subtle distinction.
Well can the understand what we want?
We can make it painful in an acoustic way but will that change their behavior.
Can you “teach “them anything. I doubt pain works.
Food, yes. Pain, no.
A captive manatee was taught to press a button during a complex
experiment to determine how well they hear...they cooperated, understood when and when not to press the button. A simple
food reward. Manatees will do things we want. They are closely related to elephants. Manatee behavior is very different from elephants who occasionally kill the people who train them. Clearly the same is true for orcas in captivity. They understand killing things.
Orcas experience few things which change their behavior in the wild. Why will orcas connect painful
noise with any change we want to see in their behavior with regard to
boats. Why would an intelligent mammal begin to change behavior when they know nothing in their experience similar to this lesson we want to teach them. One can snap a whip at a lion in a cage and it works to change behavior but I don’t see how idea will
work with orcas. Painful
noise?
We know very little of their acoustic abilities or sensitivity.
The idea we are going to change the behavior of this huge, strong, social and intelligent mammal with acoustics is silly. Simply laughable.
You can kill them but I would not want to open a Pandora’s box with noise.
No one knows what their response will be but I’d think about the risks of making the situation worse. Let’s please try to not solve all conflicts with
guns and bombs. Or by making painful noises.
Happy trails to you.
Captain Mark