Pantheraman
Well-Known Member
What does Machine Learning have to do with Deterring Mountain Lions?
"Aditya Viswanathan, a sophomore, and his team of seven fellow high schoolers are refining the art and science of mountain lion deterrence. Aditya and his teammates are members of the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) Nature Youth Group in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Their invention, called PumaGuard, is a machine learning application that detects and identifies, with 99% accuracy, mountain lions on trail cameras. When a puma is detected on camera, PumaGuard automatically triggers multiple deterrent methods in the exact area of the cat."
Now, this is very innovative. I wanted to put this here to spread the word about the invention because these kids really do deserve it. It also has great potential to aid in puma reintroduction into the Eastern United States. Like with all carnivore reintroductions, inevitably people will fight against it in part due to future livestock depredations. Non-lethal methods like livestock guardian dogs are effective, but one issue with them is expenses. Not all livestock producers have the finances for non-lethal deterrents which themselves can be expensive, and even when a farmer or rancher does get guard dogs, they have to get them as puppies and take the time to train them. Not to bash livestock guardian dogs, as again, they're an effective deterrent against pumas.
But with methods like PumaGuard, protecting livestock from predation would be much easier and cheaper, and this coexistence would be much easier to achieve.
"Aditya Viswanathan, a sophomore, and his team of seven fellow high schoolers are refining the art and science of mountain lion deterrence. Aditya and his teammates are members of the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) Nature Youth Group in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Their invention, called PumaGuard, is a machine learning application that detects and identifies, with 99% accuracy, mountain lions on trail cameras. When a puma is detected on camera, PumaGuard automatically triggers multiple deterrent methods in the exact area of the cat."
Now, this is very innovative. I wanted to put this here to spread the word about the invention because these kids really do deserve it. It also has great potential to aid in puma reintroduction into the Eastern United States. Like with all carnivore reintroductions, inevitably people will fight against it in part due to future livestock depredations. Non-lethal methods like livestock guardian dogs are effective, but one issue with them is expenses. Not all livestock producers have the finances for non-lethal deterrents which themselves can be expensive, and even when a farmer or rancher does get guard dogs, they have to get them as puppies and take the time to train them. Not to bash livestock guardian dogs, as again, they're an effective deterrent against pumas.
But with methods like PumaGuard, protecting livestock from predation would be much easier and cheaper, and this coexistence would be much easier to achieve.