Scarlett Johansson's voice effectively deters wolves, farmers say

AC/DC songs or an argument scene from the film "Marriage Story"—these are American farmers' unusual ways of dealing with wolves preying on cattle herds. The recordings, used by the United States Department of Agriculture, are broadcast using special drones.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, for years American farmers have been battling wolves that attack their cattle. This is due to the growing wolf population. At the same time, farmers have been hamstrung in their fight against predators – wolves are listed as protected species in some states.

To reduce losses for farmers in the rural Northwest, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has deployed drones to combat wolves. These drones are equipped with thermal imaging cameras that can detect predators lurking in the darkness. They also have loudspeakers that emit sounds to scare away animals.

Drones emit sounds such as gunfire, fireworks, and arguments. The recordings also include AC/DC songs and a scene from the drama "Marriage Story." Specifically, an argument between the film's spouses, Nicole and Charlie, portrayed on screen by Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.

"We do this so the wolves know that humans are bad," explains an official with the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

While surprising, the method appears to be effective. Since the introduction of drones , wolf attacks in Oregon have declined. And the number of cows killed by wolves has decreased from 11 in 20 days to two in the next 85 days.