In Tuscany there are approx 400 thousand ungulates among wild boars, deer and roe deer. Animals that in recent years have increased in number by causing severe damage to crops. These animals in fact feed on a large number of crops and they often also venture into urban centers in search of food. THE boars in particular, they can cause considerable damage both direct, by eating crops, and indirectly, by barking trees or moving the earth in search of roots and seeds.
National wildlife damage estimates by trade associations are variable, the Coldiretti speaks of 200 million in damages caused by wild boars alone every year. To try to solve the problem in the area of the Chianti Classico an operational group was born (financed by measure 16 of the regional RDP) which tried to use ultrasound to remove ungulates from cultivated fields. "These are devices that are installed on the sidelines and emit sounds at variable frequencies, not audible to humans, but which are extremely annoying for animals", he says. Massimiliano Biagi, agronomist of the winery Barone ricasoli. Lead company of the project Ultra rep which also involved three other farms, research centers and the Natech startups, which has developed the innovative technology.
No networks, only ultrasound The basic idea is simple. Instead of defending crops with physical barriers, such as nets, which are expensive to install and maintain and aesthetically unpleasant, we use ultrasound to ward off ungulates. "The first experiments that we did have been positive, but this tool still needs to be improved to offer an adequate defense, ”says Biagi. “In fact, if the roe deer are effectively removed, the situation is more difficult with wild boars. Wild boars are less fearful and live in even large herds.
When they are hungry and smell ripe grapes, ultrasounds rarely stop them ”. “I believe the best strategy and that of lowering the population with a selection hunt, in order to ease the pressure on crops. And then tools like ultrasound emitters they can serve as an additional deterrent to ungulates, ”Biagi points out. "We strongly believe that this technology can be effective and we cannot think that in order to produce our wine, every Chianti vineyard must be fenced" (Agronews.it).