Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver’s “Marriage Story” Used to Scare Wolves Away from Cattle
In a bizarre but effective new measure, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is using a screaming match from the 2019 film Marriage Story to deter wolves from attacking livestock. The intense scene, which features stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver engaged in a furious argument, is being broadcast from drones as part of a non-lethal predator control method known as “wolf hazing.”
The practice, which combines technology and unconventional audio, has been implemented in areas where wolf attacks on livestock are a concern. Drones equipped with thermal cameras are used to spot wolves lurking in the dark. Once a wolf is detected, the drone descends and a loudspeaker plays a variety of “alarming sounds” to scare the animal away. These sounds include not only recordings of fireworks and gunshots but also, surprisingly, the audio from the explosive fight between Johansson’s character, Nicole, and Driver’s character, Charlie.
According to a USDA district supervisor in Oregon, the audio from the film, along with AC/DC’s rock anthem “Thunderstruck,” has proven to be just as effective, if not more so, than traditional scare tactics. The goal is to make the wolves associate the presence of humans with negative and startling experiences, as the supervisor explained, “I need the wolves to respond and know that, hey, humans are bad.”
The Effectiveness of Drone Hazing
The use of this innovative method has already shown promising results. The drones were first deployed in the Klamath Basin of southern Oregon after a particularly bad 20-day period during which 11 cows were killed by wolves. Following the implementation of the drone patrols, a dramatic reduction in attacks was observed, with only two cows killed over the next 85 days.
The fight scene from Marriage Story, which earned both Johansson and Driver Oscar nominations for their powerful performances, is considered one of the film’s most memorable moments. Director Noah Baumbach, who also wrote the film, said in a past interview that the film was about the “narrative of marriage” and the complex questions surrounding it. While the film was meant to explore the breakdown of a relationship, its emotional intensity has now found an entirely new and unexpected purpose in wildlife management.
This creative approach to predator deterrence highlights a growing trend in conservation and agriculture. Rather than resorting to lethal measures, wildlife services are exploring non-lethal methods to help ranchers and farmers protect their livestock while still ensuring the safety of endangered species like the gray wolf. The success of the program suggests that a mix of modern technology and the raw power of human emotion—even if it’s from a Hollywood drama—can be a surprisingly effective tool in bridging the gap between humans and wildlife.