JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been experimenting with nonlethal ways to keep wolves away from livestock in Oregon.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
That's right. But they're not using fences or traps. What they're using are drones.
SUMMERS: OK, so here's how it works. They use drones with thermal cameras to spot wolves at night. When they find one closing in on cattle, they shine a light on it and blast loud, scary sounds - think gunshots, fireworks, people yelling.
CHANG: Yeah, and recently, they upped their yelling game by going to Hollywood.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "MARRIAGE STORY")
ADAM DRIVER: (As Charlie Barber) You're exactly like your mother. Everything you're complaining about her, you're doing. You're suffocating Henry.
SUMMERS: That is Adam Driver in "Marriage Story."
CHANG: Yep, that movie where he and Scarlett Johansson pretty much scream at each other throughout the entire movie.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "MARRIAGE STORY")
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: (As Nicole Barber) But I am not like my mother.
DRIVER: (As Charlie Barber) You are. And you're like my father. You're also like my mother. You are all the bad things about all of these people, but mostly your mother.
SUMMERS: The idea is to make the animals associate humans with danger and unpredictability so they steer clear of livestock.
CHANG: And the fight scenes work because, yeah, they are loud, chaotic. And let's be honest. They're kind of stressful, even if you're not a wolf.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "MARRIAGE STORY")
DRIVER: (As Charlie Barber) You used me so you could get out of LA.
JOHANSSON: (As Nicole Barber) I didn't use you.
DRIVER: (As Charlie Barber) You did, And then you blamed me for it. You always made me aware of what I was doing wrong, how I was falling short. Life with you was joyless.
SUMMERS: It's bit of an odd pairing - wildlife control and Oscar-nominated performances, but according to The Wall Street Journal, early results suggest it might actually be working.
CHANG: Maybe not exactly what director Noah Baumbach had in mind, though.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.