Protecting Your Livestock by hikers, bicyclists and hunters. Peer-reviewed literature documents incidents between LGDs and humans and provides mitigation strategies, including signage, strategic grazing layouts, selection of suitable dog temperaments and operational protocols.

If your operation is in an area with a large amount of recreational activity, it is important to develop a human-safety plan before introducing LGDs. Using signs and handing out brochures at camp sites and parking areas on how to interact with LGDs is important to preventing issues with the public.

Wolves that Adjust to or Learn Patterns

Wolves can assess, observe and easily adapt to management practices. Wolves may exploit LGD patrol patterns and livestock if they remain in consistently vulnerable locations. In these cases, integrating multiple non-lethal predator control tools is essential.

A combination of methods, including turbo fladry, night penning, LGDs, shed lambing, proper fencing and non-seasonal birthing, can give producers a strategic advantage against predators.

Thin Margins & Chore Overload

LGDs should be treated as a management system rather than a simple purchase. Things such as feed coordination, health, parasite control and body condition significantly change their effectiveness in the field.

The AgriLife program stresses the importance of keeping LGDs in optimal working condition, particularly during high-risk periods, using body condition scoring. If ranch labor resources are already tight, LGDs may not be the most suitable initial investment for predator control.

Nonlethal Layers

A review of the evidence on wolf conflict mitigation indicates that nonlethal measures are most effective when implemented in combination rather than individually. Producers may need to integrate LGDs, night penning, targeted fencing and deterrents during vulnerable periods such as calving, lambing or kidding.

Proper fencing, including appropriate woven wire size, is often overlooked but is critical in high-predation areas. Using fencing specifically designed for sheep and goats in regions with significant predator pressure can enhance LGDs ' protective capacity.

Economics

United States Department of Agriculture( USDA) predatorloss reports indicate that predators account for 33 % of sheep and 40 % of lamb mortality. The impact remains significant both financially and emotionally, particularly when predation becomes chronic.

Ranchers should conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis. Weighing expenses such as dog purchases, feed, veterinary care, replacements and labor against the anticipated reduction in losses and operational disruptions can provide a reasonable estimate. If the analysis is positive, LGDs can increase the number of marketable calves, lambs and kids.

Are LGDs Worth Trying

LGDs are effective against wolves when producers are

Sheep operators use dogs to manage and protect their sheep by scaring off predators. The dogs are here to protect the sheep. If you do not appear to be a threat to the sheep, many times the dogs will just watch you.

Please Avoid Conflict With Protection Dogs. Do: Don’ t:

4 Hike or ride your all-terrain vehicle / mountain bike into or near the flock.

4 Make quick or aggressive movements around the dog( s) or sheep.

4 Attempt to hit or throw things at the dog( s) or sheep.

4 Yell at dog( s) or sheep, unless approached— then, yell“ go back” or“ no!”

4 Try to outrun the dog( s).

4 Stop and dismount if mountain biking.

4 Put your bike between you and the dog.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

4 Walk your bike until you are well past the sheep.

4 Keep your distance from the flock.

4 Keep your dog( s) leashed at all times.

4 Watch for the protection dog( s) and the herder.

4 Remain calm if a dog( s) approaches.

If you have questions about livestock protection dogs or other wildlife damage management issues, please call Wildlife Services— a program within the U. S. Department of Agriculture’ s( USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service( APHIS)— at 1-866-4-USDA-WS( 1-866-487-3297), or visit the APHIS Web site at www. aphis. usda. gov / wildlife-damage.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Program Aid No. 2053 • Issued July 2010 • Slightly Revised July 2017

If you would like to download the above poster, please visit the USDA website for a printable version.

prepared to establish a defensible livestock system, can commit to deploying sufficient numbers of dogs and can provide appropriate management to ensure their effectiveness and safety.

Conversely, LGDs are unlikely to succeed in low-labor, single-dog scenarios in highly dispersed systems under persistent predator pressure.

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