Japan Has a Train That Barks Like a Dog to Scare Deer Off Tracks

In Japan, the significant problem of deer-related train accidents has led to an innovative and unusual solution that goes beyond simple horns or physical barriers. With over 600 incidents of trains hitting deer and other wildlife recorded in 2016, causing substantial delays, a more effective deterrent was needed. Researchers discovered that deer are drawn to railway tracks to lick up iron filings, a byproduct of the friction between train wheels and the tracks, as a dietary supplement. This attraction, combined with growing deer populations, created a hazardous situation for both the animals and the railway system.

To address this, Japan's Railway Technical Research Institute developed a unique acoustic deterrent system. The system plays a specific sequence of sounds from speakers mounted on the trains. It begins with a three-second recording of a deer's snorting sound, which serves as an alarm call to get the attention of other deer. This is immediately followed by a 20-second recording of barking dogs, a sound known to frighten deer and cause them to flee. This combination of sounds is designed to first alert the deer and then compel them to move away from the tracks.

This bio-acoustic approach has proven to be a successful and humane alternative to other methods like fencing or repellents. Tests of the barking train system, conducted primarily at night when deer are most active, have shown a significant 45 percent reduction in deer sightings along the tracks. The system is designed for use in mountainous and rural areas where deer collisions are most common, and it avoids residential areas to prevent noise disturbances. This creative solution highlights a blend of wildlife biology and technological innovation to solve a modern transportation challenge.