Efficacy of guard llamas to reduce canine predation on domestic sheep.

摘要: Coyotes (Canis latrans) can pose serious economic threats to sheep producers throughout the western United States. At same time, important segments of public prefer environmentally benign means resolve conflicts with wild species. We evaluated effectiveness guard llamas reduce canine predation on domestic by placing 20 Utah and comparing data collected from these flocks over months similar without llamas. Comparisons included proportion losses predators mean rates ewes lambs. also conducted surveys assess producer opinions about including in their management programs. In all comparisons lamb between treatments controls, sustained control first summer grazing season (SGS1) were significantly greater than Among treatment flocks, for SGS1 second (SGS2). dropped levels SGS2. The results suggest that may have reach a threshold before noticeable effects losses. Surveys indicated strong support using as animals sheep.