Predation threatens the economic viability of sheep operations in the United States. Many producers recognize the need to complement lethal control methods with nonlethal strategies such as the use ...of livestock guardian dogs (LGDs), but little information exists on benefits and costs. We report on a comprehensive benefit–cost analysis of the decision to incorporate LGDs onto a sheep operation in Mendocino County, California, USA, based on data collected during 2013–2017, where livestock predation by coyotes (Canis latrans) has been a persistent problem. We estimated that for a representative sheep operation with a breeding flock of 500 adult females (ewes), the use of 5 LGDs reduced lambs and ewes lost to coyote predation by 43% and 25%, respectively, for a total savings of US$16,200 over 7 years. However, we found that costs, which included acquisition and maintenance expenses, exceed benefits of this investment over the 7-year useful life of LGDs by US$13,413. Our results inform the adoption of LGDs, demonstrating that LGDs are only cost-effective for certain types of operations, namely those where LGDs are able to achieve high rates of predator protection efficacy.
Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) in the Romanian Carpathians are as old as the pastoral presence and activity in the region. The main role of these dogs is to protect livestock from predation by large ...carnivores. The Carpathian Mountains, as opposed to other European mountain ranges, have always had considerable populations of wolf, brown bear, and lynx; conflict with the herders is inevitable. Here, the shepherds rely only on themselves and their dogs to keep their animals safe from predation during pastoral movements. We investigated 12 sites from the historical regions of Banat and Transylvania, where we have collected traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) on the use of native LGDs as an ancient non-lethal method for the prevention of livestock depredation. By monitoring the behavior of their dogs, the shepherds establish a complex ethno-ethological relationship with them, which helps them foretell the movements and presence of large carnivores in their vicinity. We have also investigated the recent positive change of attitude of some of the Romanian nature conservationists towards the Romanian Carpathian Shepherd Dog breed, which is also currently promoted by important international nature conservation NGOs as an ecologically friendly method to mitigate the conflict with large carnivores. The uninterrupted use of endemic LGD breeds by pastoralists in Romania might be one of the main reasons for the survival and conservation of large carnivores here in the past and in the future.
Balkan Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) were bred to help protect sheep flocks in sparsely populated, remote mountainous areas in the Balkans. The aim of this study was genomic characterization (107,403 ...autosomal SNPs) of the three LGD breeds from the Balkans (Karst Shepherd, Sharplanina Dog, and Tornjak). Our analyses were performed on 44 dogs representing three Balkan LGD breeds, as well as on 79 publicly available genotypes representing eight other LGD breeds, 70 individuals representing seven popular breeds, and 18 gray wolves. The results of multivariate, phylogenetic, clustering (STRUCTURE), and FST differentiation analyses showed that the three Balkan LGD breeds are genetically distinct populations. While the Sharplanina Dog and Tornjak are closely related to other LGD breeds, the Karst Shepherd is a slightly genetically distinct population with estimated influence from German Shepard (Treemix analysis). Estimated genomic diversity was high with low inbreeding in Sharplanina Dog (Ho = 0.315, He = 0.315, and FROH>2Mb = 0.020) and Tornjak (Ho = 0.301, He = 0.301, and FROH>2Mb = 0.033) breeds. Low diversity and high inbreeding were estimated in Karst Shepherds (Ho = 0.241, He = 0.222, and FROH>2Mb = 0.087), indicating the need for proper diversity management. The obtained results will help in the conservation management of Balkan LGD dogs as an essential part of the specific grazing biocultural system and its sustainable maintenance.
In 1980, Green and Woodruff (1980) published an article titled, "Is predator control going to the dogs?" At that time, the use of livestock guardian dogs (Canis lupus familiaris; LGDs) was a ...relatively new wildlife damage management tool in North America. An ancient technique throughout much of Europe and Asia, a host of drivers precipitated the importation of LGDs to the United States, including a desire for increased diversity of less-than-lethal wildlife damage management techniques, 24-hour protection of livestock, a decline in landscape-scale trapping of carnivores due to decreasing small ruminant production, and declining fur markets (Green and Woodruff 1980). JOHN M. TOMEčEK is an assistant professor and extension wildlife specialist at Texas A&M Univer- - PI of the Texas Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, he leads efforts to expand knowledge of the ecology, behavior, and interactions of humans with carnivores.
The use of livestock guardian dogs (Canis lupus familiaris; LGDs) to deter predators from preying on domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and goat (Capra spp.) herds continues to increase across the United ...States. Most research regarding the efficacy of LGDs has been based on queries of rancher satisfaction with LGD performance, yet little is known regarding LGD influence on mesocarnivores, including those species against which they protect livestock. Here, we provide some preliminary observations regarding the effect of LGDs deployed with sheep and goat herds from May 2016 to April 2017 on the detected activity of mesocarnivores within occupied pastures on a 2,027-ha ranch in Menard County, central Texas, USA. Specifically, we were interested in learning if the presence of LGDs might affect the activity of nontarget mesocarnivores (i.e., mammalian predators that do not pose a predation threat to sheep or goats) apart from carnivores that do. To conduct this research, we deployed global positioning system radio-collars on 4 LGDs to record their positions and evaluate their spatial distribution across the ranch over the course of the study. To detect and quantify the presence of these carnivores across the ranch, we established a grid of remote cameras that continuously surveyed for their presence over the course of a year. We detected 8 mesocarnivore species and documented variable effects on activity by each species in relation to the locations of the radio-marked LGDs. Environmental factors rather than LGD presence accounted for most of the variation we observed in mesocarnivore activity. Mesocarnivore activity was also highest in areas without livestock. For those concerned with livestock-wildlife coexistence, our results suggest that LGD presence does not alter the activity of mesocarnivores not typically identified as a threat to sheep and goats. For those managing for livestock predation, our results suggest that LGD presence may negatively influence the activity of bobcats (Lynx rufus), though this effect was not independent from the influence of elevation.
Since 1956, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and golden jackals (Canis aureus) have been the primary vectors maintaining wildlife rabies in Israel. Oral rabies vaccination of wild canids, initiated in 1998, ...resulted in near-elimination of the disease in wildlife by 2005. In 2005 and 2006, an outbreak of rabies was observed in stray dogs in the vaccinated area of the Golan Heights, with no cases in foxes or jackals. Epidemiological investigations showed that the infected dogs were from territories across the border. This was confirmed by molecular analysis, which showed that the virus was different from rabies isolates endemic to this area. The objective of this study was to determine bait acceptance and the feasibility of oral rabies vaccination in packs of livestock guardian dogs. Coated sachets and fishmeal polymer baits of Raboral V-RG (Merial, USA) were tested in five different test zones. Both formats were hand-fed to individual dogs and to dogs belonging to dog packs. Bait uptake and consumption were observed in each dog. The estimated efficacy of oral rabies vaccination was very low (a maximum of 28%). Vaccine delivery problems were observed in dogs belonging to packs, whereby dominant animals consumed multiple baits and in competitive situations baits were swallowed whole. The uncertainty of oral vaccination necessitated turning to other methods to control this outbreak: stray dogs were removed and herd dogs were vaccinated parenterally. This study showed that oral rabies vaccination of dogs in packs using baits designed for wildlife would not be effective. Possibly, different baits or steps to circumvent competition within the pack will make this approach feasible.
•Risk perception is crucial in mesocarnivores’ habitat selection and big carnivores convey risk signals through auditory, visual, and olfactory communication.•Manipulate those risk signals could ...create perceptual traps and produce landscape of fear, which open a range of options to manage mesocarnivores involved in conflicts with livestock production.•Livestock guarding dogs' whole-body odor, induce a decrease on foxes’ visitation rates in scrublands habitats compared to unscented places.•We propose a new complementary management technique, amplifying livestock guarding dog effects.
Predation risk is perceived by prey and mesocarnivores through risk signals given by large carnivores. These signals can be manipulated without exposing mesocarnivores to real risk, creating landscapes of fear through perceptual traps, altering behavior. Olfactory signals like urine and feces have been used to deter carnivores that predate on livestock, but a more biologically meaningful cue could be more effective. Livestock guardian dogs (LGD) deter carnivores and reduce predation, so using their whole-body odor as a risk signal in a livestock system could contribute to reduce livestock-carnivore conflict. We tested LGD whole-body odor effect on Patagonian foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus and Lycalopex griseus) present in sheep production in three different habitats—forest, scrubland and pastureland—and analyzed behavioral changes. The presence of LGD whole-body odor reduce the presence of foxes in scrubland habitats and could increase fear behavior and reduced food consumption compared to non-scented places. This technique could act as a complement to LGD, amplifying its effect, but the habitat characteristics must be considered to make it effective. LGD whole-body odor, a more realistic risk signal, representing the presence of LGD without exposing mesocarnivores to a real encounter, i.e. a perceptual trap, could contribute to reduce livestock losses and carnivore threats from livestock owners, aiming to facilitate coexistence between livestock production and native carnivores.
Producer interest in using livestock guardian dogs (Canis lupus familiaris; LGDs) to protect domestic cattle (Bos taurus) is driven by expanding large carnivore predator populations and increased ...public concerns regarding lethal predator control in North America. However, few resources exist to guide livestock producers regarding the use of LGDs to protect cattle. This paper summarizes published information and personal ranch experiences regarding the use of LGDs to protect cattle, describes livestock-producer identified challenges to more widespread adoption of this method to deter predators, and provides guidelines for introducing pups to LGD-naive cattle herds. I recommend more extensive research on the use of LGDs with cattle, increased development of programs to place LGDs with cattle herds, as well as educational efforts targeting resource managers, livestock producers, and the general public.
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