01.jpg (18.44 KB. 520x292 - viewed 2 times.)We've seen TASER electroshock weapons designed for law enforcement, personal
protection and even riot control, but in all of the above cases, it's a human on
the receiving end. Now the company has a different target in sight for its
"less lethal" technology ... and it's one that could create as much controversy
as it's predecessors – the TASER Wildlife Electronic Control Device (ECD).
Introduced at this week's SHOT Show in Las Vegas, the TASER Wildlife ECD
has been developed as an alternative tool for less effective methods of
animal control used by wildlife professionals like chemical or acoustic
repellents. It is designed for use on large animals like bears and elk.
"The TASER Wildlife ECD is an extension of TASER's technology to save
animal lives," said Rick Smith, CEO and co-founder of TASER International.
"It is designed to incapacitate larger animals more effectively and safer
than current animal control tools."
The wildlife specific model is a three-shot, semi-automatic that can deliver a
pulse from up to 35 feet (10.6 m) away. It's been ruggedized to stand-up
to sea spray, rain, dust and short-term water submersion, and has the same
logging and dual range laser targeting systems as the TASER X3 on which
it is based. The MSRP has been set at US$2,000.
The company says that while it "believes that the modification of human
behavior is the key to themanagement of human-animal conflicts, it sometimes
becomes necessary for wildlife managers to utilize tools to modify animal
behavior." Programs are being developed to train wildlife professionals in
the safe use of these ECDs, but like any weapon, it's open misuse by humans
and controversy is most likely to arise when it falls into the hands of
untrained, unprofessional users.
Of course, we can't ask even smarter than average bears what they think.
