Flox Intelligence is building an AI-based wildlife deterrent system designed to reduce collisions between animals and transportation infrastructure such as trains, airports, and roads. The technology aims to address costly and dangerous wildlife strikes, which in the U.S. civil aviation sector alone have averaged $272 million annually from 1990 to 2025, according to the FAA. The system was inspired by founder Sara Nozkova’s experience with transportation and autonomous vehicles and seeks to offer a new approach beyond traditional deterrents.
Sara Nozkova, who spent 13 years in transportation and autonomous vehicle industries, developed the system after learning about the extensive damage caused by animal collisions globally. For example, France’s SNCF rail operator reported over 8,000 trains affected annually by wandering animals, with 120 train-animal collisions in Brittany in 2023 causing significant delays. Nozkova emphasized that louder deterrents are not the solution, prompting her to create an AI-driven system that works differently from sirens, lights, fences, falcons, and culling methods traditionally used.
The significance of Flox Intelligence’s AI solution lies in its potential to reduce infrastructure damage, service disruptions, and animal fatalities caused by wildlife strikes. The problem is widespread, impacting multiple countries and transport modes. Comparable efforts typically rely on physical barriers or scare tactics, but Flox’s AI approach could provide a more effective and scalable alternative. This innovation aligns with growing interest in applying AI to enhance safety and efficiency in transportation networks worldwide.
Flox Intelligence’s system is currently under development, with plans to deploy it across various transport infrastructures prone to wildlife interference. The FAA’s estimate of $272 million in annual wildlife strike costs highlights the financial stakes involved. Sara Nozkova’s work represents a concrete step toward mitigating these impacts using AI, with further details expected as the technology progresses toward operational use.
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