Utility of livestock-protection dogs for deterring wildlife from cattle farms.

摘要: Context. Livestock producers worldwide are negatively affected by livestock losses because of predators and wildlifetransmitted diseases. In the western Great Lakes Region United States, this conflict has increased as grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations have recovered white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) served a wildlife reservoir for bovine tuberculosis (Myobacterium bovis). Aims. We conducted field experiments on cattle farms to evaluate effectiveness livestock-protection dogs (LPDs) excluding wolves, coyotes (C. latrans), mesopredators from pastures. Methods. integrated LPDs six (treatment) monitored use with tracking swaths these farms,concurrentwiththreecontrolcattlefarmsduring2005–2008.Theamountoftimedeerspentinlivestockpastureswas recorded using direct observation. Key results.Livestockpastures protected byLPDs had reduced useby thesewildlife comparedwith controlpastures not protectedbyLPDs.White-taileddeerspentlesstimeinlivestockpasturesprotectedbyLPDscomparedwithcontrolpastures LPDs. Conclusions.OurresearchsupportsthetheorythatLPDscanbeaneffectivemanagementtoolforreducingpredationand diseasetransmission.WealsodemonstratethatLPDsarenotlimitedtobeingusedonlywithsheepandgoats;theycanalsobe used protect cattle. Implications.Onthebasisofour findings,wesupporttheuseofLPDsasaproactivemanagementtoolthatproducerscan implement minimise threat depredations transmission disease livestock. should be investigated further more general conservation tool protecting valuable wildlife, such ground-nesting birds, that pastures