For generations, the idea of using technology to manage the delicate balance between people and nature has captured the imagination of both scientists and the public. In 2025, that vision is taking flight—quite literally—across American farmlands, where drones are being deployed not just to monitor crops or spray pesticides, but to help ranchers and farmers solve age-old challenges in new ways.
On the rugged rangelands near the California-Oregon border, a team of biologists is conducting an experiment that sounds more like a rock concert than a wildlife management strategy. According to the Associated Press, these scientists are using drones to blast AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” dramatic movie clips, and even live human voices at gray wolves in an effort to protect cattle. The approach is as unconventional as it sounds: imagine a drone swooping overhead at night, its loudspeaker suddenly erupting with Scarlett Johansson’s impassioned yell from the 2019 film Marriage Story, or the electrifying riffs of a heavy metal anthem. The goal? To startle the wolves and drive them away from livestock before they can do any harm.
It’s a high-tech twist on a conflict that’s been simmering for centuries. Gray wolves, once nearly wiped out in the western United States by the mid-20th century, have made a remarkable comeback since their reintroduction to Idaho and Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s. They now range across Washington, Oregon, northern California, and the Great Lakes region. As their numbers have grown, so too have their encounters with ranchers—sometimes with deadly consequences for livestock. In 2022 alone, gray wolves killed about 800 domesticated animals across ten states, a figure tallied by state and federal agencies and cited by the Associated Press.
Traditional responses to wolf predation have included everything from electrified fencing and guard dogs to horseback patrols and, when all else fails, lethal control. But as the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reports, the new drone-based deterrent system offers a promising nonlethal alternative. The scientists have outfitted drones with thermal imaging cameras—crucial for spotting wolves at night, when they’re most active—and loudspeakers capable of playing a range of preloaded sounds. The playlist is eclectic: music, gunshots, fireworks, and even the heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch’s cover of “Blue on Black.” If the wolves seem unfazed, the drone operator can improvise, speaking directly into a microphone to address the predators in real time.
“If we could reduce those negative impacts of wolves, that is going to be more likely to lead to a situation where we have coexistence,” said Dustin Ranglack, the USDA’s lead researcher on the project, in comments to the Associated Press. It’s a vision of peaceful sharing of the land, where technology helps bridge the gap between conservation and agriculture.
The results so far have been encouraging. Ranchers in northern California who have hosted USDA drone patrols report a reduction in livestock deaths this year. The patrols have even expanded south to the Sierra Valley as of August, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The technology has allowed researchers to document successful interruptions of wolf hunts—sometimes with nothing more than a shouted “Hey wolf—get out of here,” as USDA district supervisor Paul Wolf (yes, that’s his real name) recounted. “The wolf immediately lets go of the cattle and runs away,” he told the Associated Press.
But, as with any innovation, there are caveats. The drones themselves are expensive—a model equipped with night vision and a loudspeaker can cost around $20,000—and require professional training to operate safely. They’re also less effective in wooded areas, which limits their utility for some ranchers. And there’s the looming question of whether wolves, clever as they are, will eventually learn to ignore the noise. “What I’m afraid of is that after some period of time, that all of a sudden they go, ‘Wow, this isn’t going to hurt me. It just makes a lot of noise,’” said Mary Rickert, a cattle rancher north of Mount Shasta, in an interview with the Associated Press. While she’s grateful for the reduction in livestock losses so far, she worries about the long-term prospects. “I don’t think it’s a long-term solution.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away in Nebraska, a different kind of drone demonstration is drawing crowds at Husker Harvest Days, one of the nation’s premier agricultural expositions. As reported by Farm Progress, the event’s new “Drone Zone” is showcasing the latest in aerial application technology. Here, large spray applicator drones fly above standing or harvested corn in a dedicated 500-by-500-foot area, spraying water as spectators watch from the safety of a tent. The tent is equipped with a television that streams a first-person view from the drone’s camera, so visitors can see exactly what the pilot sees—without having to squint into the sun.
“It’s something folks are going to want to be sure to check out,” said Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress senior director of events. Up to three companies, including Missouri-based Agri Spray Drones (which carries EAVision drones) and Bestway Ag (flying DJI equipment), are participating. The demonstrations are managed by Alex Ryan of Agri Spray Drones, who launches the flights at his discretion during the three-day event.
Bringing spray drones to the show wasn’t easy. Federal Aviation Administration regulations are strict: all pilots must be credentialed, drones must keep at least 100 feet from people, and smaller models under 55 pounds aren’t allowed. The tent itself must have a clear side facing the field to keep spectators protected. “We’ve been working with FAA to make sure that we can do this according to their rules and do it safely, and still give the visitors at the show the opportunity to witness this technology,” Jungmann explained to Farm Progress.
The aim of the Drone Zone is as much educational as it is entertaining. Farmers can ask questions, get hands-on information, and see for themselves how these machines might fit into their own operations. “It gives exhibitors an opportunity to make their case on why somebody might be interested in their [drones]. It’s a constantly evolving thing,” Jungmann said.
Both stories—one of drones chasing wolves from cattle in the West, the other of drones spraying water over cornfields in the Midwest—offer a glimpse into the rapidly changing face of American agriculture. While each application is distinct, both highlight the promise and the challenges of integrating new technology into old landscapes. There’s optimism, yes, but also a healthy dose of realism. As environmental advocate Amaroq Weiss of the Center for Biological Diversity put it, “Wolves are frightened of novel things.” The same could be said for many people when faced with new technology. But as these drones buzz overhead, they may just be charting a path toward a future where coexistence, innovation, and tradition all find their place.
