Optimal Laser Strike Intensity to Realize “Nonlethal Pain Stimulation Deterrence” in Human-Wildlife Conflict Management: Wild Boar as a Case Study

Abstract

Deterrence is a key component of human-wildlife conflict management. This study firstly introduced the concept of “nonlethal pain stimulation deterrence,” a kind of deterrence technologies based on painful stimuli which do not cause severe injury to wildlife while realizing effective deterrence through precisely controlling strike intensity. Then, we conducted laser strike experiments on fresh wild boar skin samples and live individuals to assess the relationship between strike intensity and skin injury degree and individual's escape behavior, respectively. We determined the maximum laser power with minimal skin injury through skin experiments (260 W and 1 s in summer, 285 W and 1 s in winter), and the minimum deterrence values (210 W and 1 s) through live animal experiments. The strike intensity parameters determined in this study provide technical specifications for wildlife deterrence at a set distance. To improve field applicability, subsequent experiments should quantify optimal strike intensity along a distance gradient.

Keywords

human-wildlife conflict / laser technology / nonlethal pain stimulation deterrence / wild boar

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2025 The Author(s). Wildlife Letters published by Northeast Forestry University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.