United States Department of Wildlife Services: Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Helping Producers Inspection Service Manage Predation Program Aid No. 1722 xtreme weather, treacherous Services (WS), a program within the Eterrain, and disease claim the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health lives of countless livestock each Inspection Service (APHIS), for year, but just as fearsome is the assistance. WS has the Federal threat posed by predators, such as authority, expertise, and research coyotes, cougars, wolves, and capability to resolve wildlife con- bears. Despite producers’ best flicts and help manage damage. efforts to protect their livestock, This assistance can prevent preda- hundreds of thousands of sheep, tion and preserve the livelihood of cattle, and goats fall victim to pred- farmers and ranchers across the ators each year. In fact, predators Nation. cause some of the most significant losses to the sheep industry nation- Identifying the Problem wide. Livestock losses attributed to predators cost U.S. ranchers and Livestock, especially young lambs producers more than $71 million and calves, are the target of a vari- annually, according to statistics ety of predators, including coyotes, compiled by the U.S. Department of cougars, bears, wolves, foxes, and Agriculture’s (USDA) National raptors. Coyotes, however, are Agricultural Statistics Service responsible for the majority of live- (NASS). stock predation in America. NASS When their losses become too surveys found that coyotes account great, producers turn to Wildlife for 65 percent of all cattle and calf Photo credits: The images of the The U.S. Department of Agriculture Akbash dog and the adult sheep with a (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all single lamb were taken by APHIS pho- its programs and activities on the tographer Laurie Smith. The remaining In the United States, coyotes are responsible for more images come from the APHIS photo basis of race, color, national origin, livestock losses than all other predators combined. archives. sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital Cover photos: For many small farmers or family status. (Not all prohibited and ranchers, preventing livestock depredation can mean the difference bases apply to all programs.) between success and financial ruin. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communica- In addition to coyotes, livestock produ- tion of program information (Braille, cers also have to worry about attacks by large print, audiotape, etc.) should cougars, wolves, and bears. contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

Issued October 2002 To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil This brochure supersedes Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Agriculture Information Bulletin Building, 1400 Independence No. 650, “A Producers Guide to Avenue, SW, Washington, DC Preventing Predation of Livestock,” 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 published in July 1992 and slightly (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal revised in March 1994. opportunity provider and employer. 3 Livestock Husbandry lambing can also reduce newborn Keeping livestock confined in losses due to inclement weather. pens or corrals may prevent preda- Because of their size and lack tion, but it’s not very practical in of strength, young livestock are most cases. Corralling livestock especially vulnerable to predators only at night, however, may be more during the spring and summer. feasible and is also effective in Shed lambing serves to give them a reducing losses because many fighting chance. In addition, pro- predators, such as the coyote, often ducers can avoid using pastures hunt at night. Lighting the corral with a history of predation. can further reduce the possibility of Pastures closer to buildings and a predator attack. human activity can be safer for Producers need to be especial- young livestock. Pastures with ly vigilant in the spring. The fact rough terrain or dense vegetation that spring lambing coincides with borders tend to provide predators coyote birthing can lead to high with advantageous cover. Some Sheep grazing on open rangeland are especially predation because coyotes need to producers also put bells on their vulnerable to predator attacks because coyotes, wolves, and cougars roam the same territory. feed their pups. To counteract this sheep to discourage predators and threat, more and more producers alert herders or ranch hands to dis- are turning to shed lambing. Before turbances in the flock. losses to predators and 61 percent ers’ livestock losses could be three a ewe gives birth, she is moved of sheep and lamb predation. While to five times higher. indoors to a confined space, where Guard Animals some ranchers and livestock pro- she will remain with her lambs for In increasing numbers, live- ducers experience only minimal Managing Livestock several weeks. In addition to pro- stock producers are using guard livestock losses, others must deal Predation tecting against predators, shed animals in their pastures and on with serious predation. In Western States like Idaho and Utah, where Ask any farmer how many measures livestock usually graze on open he or she has in place to protect Ranchers experience the majority of livestock losses in rangelands, lambs and calves are livestock from predators: most will the spring and early summer, when young lambs are too small to fend off predator attacks. especially vulnerable to predators. rattle off half a dozen or more non- Small farmers and ranchers lethal controls. Combining various often feel the impact of livestock livestock techniques and tools to predation more significantly than reduce predation is known as inte- larger livestock operations. About grated damage management. WS 75 percent of WS’ cooperative recommends that producers employ agreements in the Western United a variety of measures, such as fenc- States are with small farmers and ing, guard animals, and shed lamb- ranchers trying to minimize their ing, to protect their livestock. In livestock losses to predators. combination, such measures can be Ongoing research conducted by effective in reducing predation. But program specialists indicates that, not all methods are applicable in without protection measures and every situation. assistance from WS, these ranch-

4 5 open ranges to prevent predator efforts to protect livestock, guard attacks. Guard animals include dogs are also vulnerable to attack dogs, donkeys, llamas, and mules. themselves. The number of dogs Dogs are by far the most popular of needed to protect a flock depends the protective animals, although on its size, the local terrain, and the llamas, which guard by intimida- livestock species onsite. tion, are also gaining favor with producers. Fences The most effective guard dogs Excluding coyotes by putting are Eurasian breeds, such as the up fencing, especially in large areas, Akbash and Great Pyrenees. A is expensive but can offer some good livestock guarding dog stays protection. Many coyotes, however, with the animals without harming learn to dig deeper or climb higher them and aggressively repels pred- to defeat a fence. To be effective, ators. A guard dog is not a herding the fence should be about 5.5 feet dog but rather a full-time member high to keep the predators from of the flock that has bonded with jumping over, and a buried wire Fencing around pastures can offer some protection the animals in the herd, usually apron or barbed wire at ground against predation, but many predators learn to dig sheep. The protective behaviors of level can discourage digging. deeper or climb higher to defeat a fence. guard dogs are largely instinctive, Producers can also install electric but they can be effective in prevent- fencing to keep predators from ing predator, especially coyote, climbing over. size of the pasture, before deciding even better. For example, produ- attacks. Guard dogs don’t solve Livestock managers should whether to build a fence. Fencing cers can use propane cannons, the problem, however; they just pre- carefully consider a variety of fac- is most likely to be cost effective sirens, and radios with sound ampli- vent isolated attacks. In their tors, such as the type of terrain and when the potential for predation is fiers to scare away predators lurking high and fencing can be incorpo- around pastures or open range- rated with other means of predator lands. While these measures can Guard dogs, like the Akbash, stay with the flock at all management. For example, guard be effective, their benefits are often times and can be very effective in preventing depredation. dogs and fencing used together short lived because predators can achieve a higher rate of success adapt to new repellants and devices than either alone. Effective fencing, quite rapidly. WS is researching however, can impede the move- innovative ways to use noise and ments of other wildlife and should sound to deter predators. That be installed only after a professional research is discussed later in this wildlife assessment. brochure.

Frightening Devices WS Helps Producers Loud noises, lights, and repel- lants can also be helpful in scaring By the time livestock producers and off predators. Cougars, wolves, ranchers request assistance from coyotes, and other animals are WS, they have already employed easily frightened by strange odors, some or all of the nonlethal meas- sights, and sounds. Using these ures just described but are continu- methods in combination can work ing to experience predation. In 6 7 many cases, these measures by mate means of protecting livestock themselves are not sufficient to pre- when nonlethal means prove inef- vent predator attacks. fective, impractical, or unavailable. WS has the knowledge and The removal of these predators skill, as well as the equipment, to significantly reduces predation in track, capture, and remove preda- targeted areas, saving producers tors from locations where they are thousands of dollars’ worth of causing serious damage. When losses. In addition to assisting notified of an attack, WS-trained producers, WS also helps protect specialists arrive on the scene the ecosystem from possible dam- within 24 hours to examine the car- age due to the inappropriate or ille- casses and identify tracks in the gal practices that amateurs might area in order to determine whether apply. a coyote, cougar, or other predator Benefit–cost analyses con- is responsible for the animals’ ducted on predator management death. This information helps WS operations have shown that for identify and remove only those every dollar spent on livestock Ranchers and producers depend on WS for assistance predators that are causing damage. protection, WS saves producers in resolving livestock depredation complaints. A 2001 review of WS practices between $2 and $7 in losses. For by the General Accounting Office every dollar saved by WS’ efforts, at found that the lethal management of least 3 additional dollars are gener- to benefit all of America. While help them to address the problem predators is a necessary and legiti- ated that extend beyond agriculture these dollar estimates are conserva- of predation. Researchers at tive, these studies highlight the NWRC headquarters and the Logan When trying to determine what type of predator killed a importance of WS’ work. field station are conducting sheep, WS specialists look to the carcass for clues. research to prevent predation and Coyotes are known for grabbing sheep at the throat in order to crush the animal’s trachea. WS Predator Management change predator behavior. Research More than 75 percent of the Center’s budget is dedicated WS’ efforts in the field to prevent toward developing nonlethal, predation are aided by the critical socially acceptable means for research that is conducted at WS’ resolving wildlife conflicts. No other National Wildlife Research Center facility in the world is better (NWRC). Based in Fort Collins, CO, equipped for such research. NWRC is the only Federal facility Working with radio-collared devoted exclusively to wildlife wolves in the Western United damage-management research. States, NWRC researchers use NWRC’s predator ecology field sta- advanced radio technology to moni- tion in Logan, UT, is dedicated to tor wolves moving in and out of learning more about why predators, livestock areas. When wolves such as the coyote, behave the way encroach on pastures protected by they do. Researchers theorize that WS-installed monitoring devices, if they can better understand the the signals from these collars can animals, that understanding will be used to trigger frightening

8 9 devices such as sirens and flashing Contraception in Wildlife (Technical lights. As mentioned earlier, preda- Bulletin 1853) from tors quickly become habituated to USDA APHIS WS NWRC such sights and sounds, but NWRC Library scientists are working to develop 4101 LaPorte Avenue new methods that will remain effec- Fort Collins, CO 80521–2154 tive for longer periods. NWRC researchers are also Creating a Balance working with infrared detection sys- tems, similar to the motion detec- As predator populations continue to tors used in security systems, that expand and livestock producers will set off alarms when predators strive to make a living, WS’ assis- approach. Because motion of any tance is in constant demand. type would trigger the sensors, Through research and conflict man- even predators without radio collars agement, WS works to create a would be discouraged from attack- balance that allows livestock opera- ing nearby livestock. tions to coexist with predators. Some of the most promising Using an integrated approach for predator research has been in the resolving livestock predation, WS area of reproductive inhibition, and employs a variety of nonlethal and, NWRC is a leader in this field. when necessary, lethal methods to NWRC researchers have found that stop the damage caused by preda- coyotes with pups to feed are much tors. The skill and knowledge of more likely to attack livestock. In a WS-trained specialists provide research trial, sterilized coyotes wildlife damage-management solu- killed one-sixth the number of tions that are helping to preserve a lambs killed by nonsterilized packs. way of life for both livestock pro- The sterilized coyotes also main- ducers and wildlife. tained their territories, preventing other coyotes from moving in and Additional Information feeding off the livestock. While sterilization may cause fewer live- For more information about WS pro- stock losses, the development of grams and predation management, practical and acceptable methods contact WS at (301) 734–7921. You to achieve sterilization in wild coy- can also visit the program’s Web otes requires additional research. site at For more information on this sub- http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws. ject, request a copy of the book

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