Frightening times

An Automatic Trigger for Bird Frightening Devices

Scarecrows and Predator Models for Frightening Birds from Specific Areas

Scarecrows and raptor models are fairly common traditional methods of attempting to frighten unwanted birds. Their effectiveness depends on the conditions under which they are used and the unwanted bird species involved. Best results are obtained from those that are most lifelike and have motion. When coupled with loud startling sounds or recorded distress calls their effectiveness is generally...

Evaluation of Electronic Frightening Devices as White-tailed Deer Deterrents

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of the motion-activated Usonic Sentry (with and without strobe), motion-activated Yard Gard, and Electronic Guard for deterring white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from preferred feeding areas from February to April 1996. Two four-week experiments were conducted, monitoring deer use (number of intrusions and corn consumption) at eight feeding stati...

Bell Palsy: A Frightening Symptom Can Lead to Unnecessary Testing.

The patient doesn’t always explicitly communicate his or her anxiety and fear surrounding a clinical diagnosis to the physician. This anxiety can lead to requests for increased testing or frequent patient encounters. Although this behavior is most pronounced in somatization disorder, it can emerge with any health concern. Personal interaction, patience, and active listening will help patients r...

Does Time Really Slow Down during a Frightening Event?

Observers commonly report that time seems to have moved in slow motion during a life-threatening event. It is unknown whether this is a function of increased time resolution during the event, or instead an illusion of remembering an emotionally salient event. Using a hand-held device to measure speed of visual perception, participants experienced free fall for 31 m before landing safely in a ne...