Red Phone: Sound cannons blast neighbors

“I live in the area of New and Roop streets right behind the outlets. There are noise cannons that are blowing from sunrise to sunset absolutely terrorizing the neighborhood dogs. In my particular case, I have a German shepherd who has been terrorized without any break for several weeks on end. I know there are alternatives for scaring these birds off beside making constant noises all day. I am wondering if I am the only one who is going through this hell with my dogs. Is it something that other people are concerned about as well but aren’t necessarily doing anything about it? I was going to see if I could get some community action going here to make these folks realize that this noise pollution is unacceptable torture of animals. There are absolutely alternatives for them to keep birds away from their crops. This is a very selfish act on their part in my view and is torture for the animals.”

Red Phone: Dear Blasted Next Door, Some people don’t take into consideration their neighbors when setting up these noisy deterrents. Perhaps your neighbor is not aware that your pets are experiencing discomfort. Maybe you might want to mention it to your neighbor if you are on speaking terms. 

Since dogs hear higher frequencies than humans, you know that if a sound bothers a person it will bother a dog that much more.

Some people have tried desensitize their dogs to noise. But this process can be very difficult, if not impossible, said former San Martin veterinarian Pete Keesling.

The cannons use propane to make a shotgun-like sound every so often to supposedly scare away birds and other unwanted wildlife. Some of the cannons can fire more than 400 shots a day at more than 120 decibels, which is considered the threshold for pain a human ear can endure. Farmers like them because they are easy to set up and require little maintenance. 

But there are other means that are friendlier for the neighbors, including nets, mylar strips, repellents, statues and sounds of predators and of course the old fashioned scare crow.

Unfortunately, in agricultural areas like where you live, there is little you can do. While the county Noise Ordinance says that noise is not allowed if it “endangers or injures the safety or health of human beings or animals, or annoys or disturbs a person of normal sensitivities,” this doesn’t apply in agricultural areas, said Peder Eriksson, the senior environmental health specialist with the  Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health. 

He said he’s had other complaints of noise from air cannons or irrigation pumps, but this is the first one this year for air cannons that he has had.

“The rational is that it’s supposed to be an ag friendly state, right?” Eriksson said. “People are now getting closer together than ever before.”

In unincorporated areas of the county, you can file a complaint relating to excessive noise through the Department of Environmental Health at 918-3400. But in this case since the noise is not a violation of the Noise Ordinance, you might have to try other options to get some relief for you and your pets.