Thread: Shoo roo

Originally Posted by incisor

and in breaking news!

i haven't hit a roo since i put an aulro sticker on my truck...

act now!

get yours here!

...... I have
Maybe if I buy another one and put it on the bullbar?

I have a long held theory, though untested by hoardes of truckies, that the sound emitted by the Shoo roo is actually a mating call for whales....roughly translated it means "I want sex blubber boy". The mass beachings of whales can be attributed to 4wd's cruising along the beach with their Shoo roos activated. It's still a theory....

Couldnt help myself with the direction this thread has gone, so coming home from Katherine today I did this



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Guess what I never hit any planes or UFO's on the way home.

Cheers Ean

I've still had a kangaroos jump across in front of me with a shoo-roo. I've often wondered the benefits of these? Do they run away, or do they get frightened and jump across in front of you? I'd like to think they hear you coming and disappear before you get there, but I'm not so sure ... ?

I guess the best prevention is simply being alert - and knowing time of day, and where if possible, you are likely to see them

I do a lot of motorcycle touring and for the last few years have had Shoo Roo's mounted on my front guards.
At a recent interstate rally a southern rider saw my Shoo Roo's and asked if they worked. I replied "Sure, I havent hit a Roo since I put them there" which of course was true. But then again, I haven't hit a roo in the nearly 50 yrs I have been riding without them either. Had a few close calls, but thats not the same.
To be honest, I would put the Shoo Roos on the front (they only cost a few dollars) and rely on my bull bar in case there were a few deaf roo's about.
Cheers, Rick.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Ean, save your money. A study by the UoM proved they did not work. In fact, I thought they had been prohibited from advertising that they did work???



PDS SSO

Was this study conducted using the Genuine Shoo Roo, which I understand to be an electronic device that emits a sound humans can also hear?
My experience is with the $7.90 a pair ones, from local independent auto parts shop, the Brand/Name escapes me, but have had them on my Rangey, Disco, Camry, my Partners Hi-Ace Van, Triumph Thunderbird, & Kawasaki ZRX.
If fitted to capture maximum air flow, regularly kept clear of bugs, (pipe cleaner), and travelling at 80km +, they really DO work. While driving all vehicles/motorbikes listed, without exception, we have experienced Wildlife hastily leaving the road/road side.
The rural area I live has several notoriously bad roads for Kangaroos & Wombats in particular. When first fitted, we were astounded to see a Wombat propped on the white line, suddenly take off at a remarkable speed for one, straight up a steep bank! They are renowned for darting back & forth in front of vehicles, or propping.
Next experience was a group of Eastern Greys grazing road side, and they all stood up, ears towards us, then turned and quickly disappeared into the bush. Another occasion we rounded a bend, Eastern Grey Buck in middle of road, turned, and off into paddock.
In July/August last year, we rode 8500km+ to Far North Qld & return, via the coast, and inland. The inland roads were littered with dead Kangaroo's, Emu's, and Sheep, and we had them close to, and on the roads, for much of the way, especially inland Qld & NSW. We returned safely, incident free, from our 4 week journey.
These particular ones are a simple design, that work by air flow producing a sound at a frequency disliked by Wildlife. As far as we are concerned they are the best $7.90 x 6 ever spent!!
Cate:-)

Originally Posted by mick88

A couple of mates have used the small ones that just rely on air passing through them and they have done a lot of miles in country where "grey guideposts" are plentifull without any mishaps! My mate was a real sceptic as his wife purchased them and he just thought they were a load of "you know what" He did a trip up to Quilpie and said the roos were thick on the road and he never had any come close to his vehicle...he couldn't believe it! We have also had the electronic ones on some of our work vehicles and never had any problems with hitting roos......we are in roo country so is it luck or is the gear working?

Cheers, Mick.

I back that 100%. They have worked well for me.Another thing, a lot of interstate buses have them on,
John.

Originally Posted by CapableCate

Was this study conducted using the Genuine Shoo Roo, which I understand to be an electronic device that emits a sound humans can also hear?Cate:-)

My post on page 3 of this thread addressed this point. Here it is again:

"The Shu Roo product was posited to repel kangaroos using an ultrasonic tone, however an evaluation by Bender (2001) found that Shu Roo resulted in no difference to kangaroo vigilance response, flight response, or the number of animals actually hit when compared to control vehicles not fitted with the device."

References:
Rowden, Peter J. and Steinhardt, Dale A. and Sheehan, Mary C. (2008) Road crashes involving animals in Australia. Accident Analysis and Prevention.

Bender H. (2001) Deterrence of Kangaroos from Roadways Using Ultrasonic Frequencies, Efficacy of the Shu Roo.

Bender H. (2003) Deterrence of Kangaroos from Agricultural Areas Using Ultrasonic Frequencies, Efficacy of a Commercial Device.

"Research at the Australian National University found that Eastern Grey Kangaroos can hear between 2.5 and 30 kHz but hear best between 2.5 and 12 kHz (Guppy 1985). Further work at the University of Melbourne has found that the signal of one ultrasonic product being promoted as a kangaroo deterrent has a frequency range of 15 to 23 kHz."

Insurance companies have looked at the statistics and shu roo fitted vehicles have no reduced incidence of animal strike over vehicles not fitted with the device (Dr Karl Kruszelnicki on Q & A with Dr Karl).

I would suggest your observations, and others having just fitted such a device, is due to your focusing on normal animal behaviour and relating such to the device whereas previously such behaviour was subconsciously ignored. I have noticed the same behaviour you have listed whilst driving/riding and I have had a work car shu roo fitted and noticed no difference (I might add here I studied Zoology at uni).

I have also read another report, which I have been unable to locate, that showed, even it was effective, that such devices (which would include whistle types) would be ineffective at speeds in excess of 80km/h due to a combination of the doppler effect (reducing forward projection range of the device) and mammalian reaction times.

All success stories of such devices are anecdotal. They have failed in every controlled study and in statistical analysis of total Australian animal involved accidents.

On another note, how many more kms did you get out of a tank of fuel after fitting your hyclone?