High-frequency hearing sensitivity does not systematically imply aversion to ultrasounds in large terrestrial mammals

Abstract

ABSTRACT Crop damage and vehicle collisions caused by wild ungulates require effective deterrents. Many commercial acoustic devices use ultrasonic signals, presenting them as aversive to these animals. However, unconvincing results reported in previous studies using (non-frequency modulated) ultrasounds bring their effectiveness as deterrent signals into question. Here, we explored the deterrent effectiveness of ultrasounds in several large mammalian species that are expected to perceive these high frequencies. Specifically, we tested the effect of different ultrasonic signals on red deer, peccaries, and wolves. Animals were exposed to sequences of nine acoustic signals in the 20–30 kHz frequency range, and to a lower-pitched signal (2–3 kHz). While red deer showed no aversion to ultrasonic signals (inaudible for humans), lower frequency (audible for humans) modulations increased aversive responses. Conversely, peccaries showed strong flight responses to several ultrasonic signals. Wolves also reacted to ultrasounds but did not flee. Our study confirms that ultrasonic signals are not suitable for deterring European red deer. However, our results suggest that their effectiveness in other species should be systematically tested, without assuming that their hearing frequency range is a reliable predictor of their behavioural responses to ultrasonic signals.