Relationships between Husbandry Methods and Sheep Losses to Canine Predators

Abstract

In this study we evaluated the efficacy of several husbandry methods in reducing sheep losses to coyotes (Canis latrans) and dogs. Findings are considered applicable to most sheep operations managed under farm-flock conditions. We monitored sheep losses of 109 producers monthly in a 9-county area of south central Kansas to assess husbandry effects. Cooperators reported deaths of 1,362 stock sheep and 2,230 lambs during the 15-month study, 229 (17%) and 278 (12%) of which, respectively, were killed by canine predators. Total annual losses of stock sheep and lambs were 6.7 and 7.9%, respectively; annual loss to predators was <1%. More than 80% of the predator-caused sheep deaths were in flocks of 22% of the producers. Sheep losses were slightly higher where coyote-abundance indices were high. Husbandry techniques that have the potential to significantly reduce sheep losses to canine predators include night confinement, lighting corrals, fall lambing, proper disposal of sheep carcasses, and killing individual predators that cause sheep losses. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 45(4):894-911 Coyote predation on sheep has been considered a major problem by stockmen of the western United States since the mid-1800's. Through the 1960's, efforts were made to reduce losses of sheep to coyotes by reducing coyote numbers by trapping, poisoning, shooting, and den hunting (Wagner 1972). Attitudes of the public toward predator control changed during the 1960's. Toxicants for predator control were banned on Federal lands (Nixon 1972), and later completely banned when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cancelled registrations of all predacides. Sodium cyanide was reregistered for use in the M-44 device under controlled conditions. Recent studies have focused on nonlethal methods of coyote control, including tasteaversion conditioning and olfactory repellents. Several authors have suggested husbandry methods that might reduce losses of sheep to coyotes: fencing (Shelton 1973, Thompson 1976), lights (Gier 1968), bells (Hawbecker 1939), dogs (Howard 1974), confinement at night (Gier 1968) and during lambing (Early et al. 1974a,b), and proper disposal of sheep carcasses (Boggess 1975). Few studies have been conducted to determine the relative efficacy of these methods. This study evaluated the efficacy of several sheep-husbandry methods in reducing losses of sheep to coyotes in Kansas. We acknowledge the assistance of the cooperating Kansas sheep producers who made this study possible. The study was financed by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the National Audubon Society.