Deer horn

A deer horn, or deer whistle, is a (whistle) mounted on automobiles intended to help prevent collisions with deer. Similar devices are used in Australia to scare off kangaroos. Air moving through the device produces ultrasound or other high-frequency sound waves, intended to warn deer of a vehicle's approach. Deer are highly unpredictable, skittish animals whose normal reaction to an unfamiliar sound is to stop, look and listen to determine if they are being threatened.

Scientific studies of these devices have indicated that they do not in fact reduce collisions.

Researchers with the Georgia Game and Fish Department and University of Wisconsin–Madison have pointed out several reasons why these devices do not (and probably could not) work as advertised:

In addition to the Georgia and Wisconsin studies, a study by the Ohio State Police Department also indicated the whistles are ineffective. Independent testing carried out by the Department of Zoology at the University of Melbourne reached the same conclusion about shu-roos and kangaroos.[1]

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Further reading

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