'Disco poles' used to keep elk away from Norwegian roads

OSLO, Norway, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The Norwegian Public Roads Administration said anti-elk devices nicknamed "disco poles" are being placed at the sides of roads to ward off the wildlife.

The agency said the poles, which the public nicknamed "disco poles" because they emit high-pitched sounds and shine flashing LED lights to keep elk off the roads, are being placed every 164 feet on selected roads along with bear sensors that trigger them when cars are approaching, The Local.no reported Wednesday.

"We are going to place poles with sensors along four selected roads," Henrik Wildenschild of the Public Roads Administration told the Fremover newspaper. "If the system works, we hope to put them up on all routes where elk collisions occur. It is considerably less expensive than game fences."