Autonomous detection and deterrent devices for browsing management in forested landscapes

This project will develop and test autonomous surveillance, detection and deterrent mechanisms to assess deer use of heterogenous forested landscapes and develop new options to reduce the impacts of these pests. By reducing the perpetual annual cost of browsing damage (~$600K/yr for one company) in production forests, this project will increase returns to growers through reduced plantation losses and greater productivity by; 1. Developing and testing robotics-inspired automated detection devices using deer as a test case, 2. Developing and testing effective novel autonomous deterrent devices on deer; and 3. Building and testing the effectiveness of hands-free, autonomous, intelligent deterrent systems and strategies for protecting trees.