Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
COYOTE
DOG
If you have problems with predators, it
helps to be able to identify their tracks.
The coyote track is about 3 inches
(7.5 cm) long for the front foot and
2½ inches (6.3 cm) for the rear. The size
of dog tracks varies depending on the size
of the dog, so attempting to differentiate
a dog from a coyote based on track size
alone doesn't work. Notice that the pads
vary. If you live where wolves present
predator problems, look for a doglike track
that is about 5 inches (12.7cm) long in
the front.
front
front
rear
rear
whatever runs. Unfortunately, sheep run at the slightest disturbance. The
offending dogs are not as much at fault as owners who don't keep their pets
at home.
Dogs attack rather indiscriminately — they grab at any part of a sheep they
can. Sheep often survive dog attacks but may be badly injured. Even dogs that
are too small to physically kill or maim a sheep can still cause heart failure in
older ewes and abortion in pregnant ewes. Broken legs also often result when
dogs chase sheep. Dogs that actually kill and eat sheep display feeding habits
similar to coyotes, going fi rst for the organs and then the fl ank.
Other Predators
Wolves and foxes are less problematic than coyotes for most shepherds,
though both are similar to coyotes in their style of predation and feeding. The
big bad wolf is able to — and will — easily take down adult sheep. Wolves tend
to hunt in packs of two to four animals.
Because of their small size, foxes take only fairly small lambs. (We've had
lots of foxes around and never lost any sheep or lambs to them, but they anni-
hilated our domestic ducks.)
Bears and wildcats (mountain lions, lynx, or bobcats) are common in
more-remote areas, especially in the West. These animals can kill perfectly
healthy, strong adult sheep as easily as they can a young or an old sheep. They
often kill more than one animal in a single attack and then feed on their favor-
ite parts of each kill.
