Hi, I may need to apologise for being a n00b but it looks like you guys are the best people to ask for advice - and advice that it doesn't seem easy to find on this forum or several other places I've tried.
I'm wondering whether it's possible, or worthwhile, to build or buy a laser device to repel animals. Let me explain...
As part of my job, I run charity cycling tours. I take groups of cyclists on bicycles across long distances, usually in foreign countries. We pass through amazing countryside and are sometimes far from civilisation. I and my team are responsible for looking after the cyclists, ensuring their health, safety, protection, maintaining their bicycles and of course making sure they get to their overnight accommodation or the finish line.
One of the problems we prepare for in some parts of Africa and India is wild rabid dogs. For some reason, cyclists seem to attract dog attacks from time to time, and rabies is a serious risk in some areas. I usually cycle near the front of the group and I'll sometimes carry a stick with me to either wave at the dogs to scare them off, or in some cases to strike the dogs if they get too close. However, as you'll probably appreciate, dealing with a rabid dog snapping at your legs while trying to pedal away fast and keep concentration on what are often very rough roads is a real challenge!
After a nasty attack in March where we had to evacuate one lady to a hospital 60 miles away for treatment, we tried to think of better ways of repelling the dogs. Although in some countries some of the ground staff may carry firearms, this is very rare, the weapons are generally kept well away from the participants, and we really don't want to deal with the extra dangers of trying to shoot the dogs while they're attacking cyclists. Plus, as we and most of our cyclists are British, we're a lot less used to having guns around and very few people are trained or experienced in using them.
I never want to cause harm to an animal unnecessarily, but as rabies is a dangerous and possibly fatal disease, and these dogs will bite if they can - they're wild - I think striking the dogs to prevent them biting me or my cyclists is justified. The locals will view the dogs as vermin and freely kill them, but I want to prevent as much suffering as possible and find a relatively humane way to protect my cyclists while deterring attacks.
I was wondering whether it would be feasible to build or buy some sort of laser torch to repel the creatures. Maybe a strobed laser with a relatively wide beam spread to temporarily dazzle or stun them while we cycle past. Is there any history of this sort of thing? I know one user on here asked about trying to repel bears and it was generally agreed that that was a bad idea, but I wondered whether it would be more possible with dogs, as the attacks, although ferocious, tend to be opportunistic and the creatures are scared away relatively easily. I don't know which frequencies and pulses are best for dazzling, or whether it's possible to construct something that causes a shock of pain without causing lasting damage.
I have, of course, read a lot of the safety information and guidelines. As I'm primarily responsible for the safety of my cyclists, I'm not going to consider pointing the thing anywhere near humans and I'd like to know what you think the risks would be from reflections off puddles or pieces of broken glass. I'm prepared to do a fair amount of research on this, although it may be more cost- and time-effective to ask someone with the right building experience, and the right equipment, to assemble something for me.
I'd appreciate any advice or information you could offer. Thanks.
I'm wondering whether it's possible, or worthwhile, to build or buy a laser device to repel animals. Let me explain...
As part of my job, I run charity cycling tours. I take groups of cyclists on bicycles across long distances, usually in foreign countries. We pass through amazing countryside and are sometimes far from civilisation. I and my team are responsible for looking after the cyclists, ensuring their health, safety, protection, maintaining their bicycles and of course making sure they get to their overnight accommodation or the finish line.
One of the problems we prepare for in some parts of Africa and India is wild rabid dogs. For some reason, cyclists seem to attract dog attacks from time to time, and rabies is a serious risk in some areas. I usually cycle near the front of the group and I'll sometimes carry a stick with me to either wave at the dogs to scare them off, or in some cases to strike the dogs if they get too close. However, as you'll probably appreciate, dealing with a rabid dog snapping at your legs while trying to pedal away fast and keep concentration on what are often very rough roads is a real challenge!
After a nasty attack in March where we had to evacuate one lady to a hospital 60 miles away for treatment, we tried to think of better ways of repelling the dogs. Although in some countries some of the ground staff may carry firearms, this is very rare, the weapons are generally kept well away from the participants, and we really don't want to deal with the extra dangers of trying to shoot the dogs while they're attacking cyclists. Plus, as we and most of our cyclists are British, we're a lot less used to having guns around and very few people are trained or experienced in using them.
I never want to cause harm to an animal unnecessarily, but as rabies is a dangerous and possibly fatal disease, and these dogs will bite if they can - they're wild - I think striking the dogs to prevent them biting me or my cyclists is justified. The locals will view the dogs as vermin and freely kill them, but I want to prevent as much suffering as possible and find a relatively humane way to protect my cyclists while deterring attacks.
I was wondering whether it would be feasible to build or buy some sort of laser torch to repel the creatures. Maybe a strobed laser with a relatively wide beam spread to temporarily dazzle or stun them while we cycle past. Is there any history of this sort of thing? I know one user on here asked about trying to repel bears and it was generally agreed that that was a bad idea, but I wondered whether it would be more possible with dogs, as the attacks, although ferocious, tend to be opportunistic and the creatures are scared away relatively easily. I don't know which frequencies and pulses are best for dazzling, or whether it's possible to construct something that causes a shock of pain without causing lasting damage.
I have, of course, read a lot of the safety information and guidelines. As I'm primarily responsible for the safety of my cyclists, I'm not going to consider pointing the thing anywhere near humans and I'd like to know what you think the risks would be from reflections off puddles or pieces of broken glass. I'm prepared to do a fair amount of research on this, although it may be more cost- and time-effective to ask someone with the right building experience, and the right equipment, to assemble something for me.
I'd appreciate any advice or information you could offer. Thanks.
