Date: Dec 06, 2010 Source: Company Data (
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December 6, 2010.
Last month, TKO Enterprises, Inc. (TKO) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) in which the NWRC w ill evaluate the effectiveness of TKO's new Canada goose deterrent called Goose Guardian. TKO is a pioneer in the development and application of an object recognition image sensor system. This patent-pending system detects the presence of Canada geese and triggers one of several hazing methods to scare the birds away . NWRC researchers will conduct a design review and controlled studies at their facility in Fort Collins, Colorado, to evaluate the effectiveness of the new tool to deter Canada geese.
Canada geese are important members of our natural ecosystems, but can come into conflict with people when they degrade the habitat by fouling the land and water with their excrement. The Goose Guardian is the first, cost effective, demand-performance hazing method for Canada geese. Demand performance is achieved through the use of TKO's object recognition image sensor that detects when Canada geese are present and triggers one of several hazing methods to scare the birds away. The hazing methods combine sound and motion. The system is also portable for use in a variety of locations. The Audubon International's Fact Sheet for Canada Geese states that effective hazing of geese requires scare techniques where "Visual tactics should be used on a varied schedule and alternated to prevent geese from becoming used to them" and "If this (noise makers) are combined or alternated with other methods just as geese are coming, it can be effective ." The Goose Guardian is designed to meet these requirements.
"TKO's approach appears to address the major drawbacks associated with hazing Canada geese. We are excited to provide the company with design recommendations and conduct independent tests of the product's effectiveness," states Dr. Scott Werner, Rese arch Wildlife Biologist with the NWRC.
"We're looking forward to working with the NWRC," said Neil McClure, CEO of TKO Enterprises. "We're hopeful that NWRC's controlled, scientific studies will confirm what we have already seen in our own field studies and our customers will receive added confidence in the Goose Guardian to meet their Canada goose deterrent needs."
About TKO Enterprises, Inc. TKO Enterprises, Inc. is a technology company headquartered in Boulder County, Colorado focused on the development and application of its pa tent-pending object recognition image sensor. The Goose Guardian is the first product to incorporate the sensor. For more information about the Goose Guardian, please visit www.gooseguardian.com
About the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) The NWRC is part of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS is a multi- faceted agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues.
