Guardian dogs protect sheep by guarding sheep, not by establishing territories and excluding predators
Article
Article Title | Guardian dogs protect sheep by guarding sheep, not by establishing territories and excluding predators |
---|---|
ERA Journal ID | 5178 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Allen, Lee R. (Author), Stewart-Moore, Ninian (Author), Byrne, Damian (Author) and Allen, Benjamin L. (Author) |
Journal Title | Animal Production Science |
Journal Citation | 57 (6), pp. 1118-1127 |
Number of Pages | 10 |
Year | 2017 |
Publisher | CSIRO Publishing |
Place of Publication | Australia |
ISSN | 0816-1089 |
1836-0939 | |
1836-5787 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1071/AN16030 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.publish.csiro.au/an/AN16030 |
Abstract | Guardian animals have been a common non-lethal method for reducing predator impacts on livestock for centuries in Europe. But elsewhere, livestock producers sometimes doubt whether such methods work or are compatible with modern livestock husbandry practices in extensive grazing systems. In this study we evaluate the hypothesis that guardian dogs primarily ‘work’ by establishing and defending territories from which canid predators are excluded. Eight maremmas and six free-ranging wild dogs of different sexes were fitted with GPS collars and monitored for 7 months on a large sheep property in north Queensland, Australia. Wild dog incursions into the territories of adjacent wild dogs and maremmas were recorded. Wild dog territories never overlapped and their home ranges infrequently overlapped. In contrast, 713 hourly locations from 120 wild dog incursions into maremma territories were recorded, mostly from three wild dogs. These three wild dogs spent a mean of 2.5–5.9 h inside maremma territories during incursions. At this location, maremmas worked by guarding sheep and prohibiting fine-scale interaction between wild dogs and sheep, not by establishing a territory respected by wild dogs. We conclude that shepherding behaviour and boisterous vocalisations of guardian dogs combined with the flocking behaviour of sheep circumvents attacks on sheep but does not prevent nor discourage wild dogs from foraging in close proximity. Certain husbandry practices and the behaviour of sheep at parturition may incur greater predation risk. |
Keywords | apex predator; Canis lupus dingo; human-wildlife conflict; livestock protection; predator–prey interactions |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 410499. Environmental management not elsewhere classified |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland |
Dunluce Station, Australia | |
Institute for Agriculture and the Environment | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q389q/guardian-dogs-protect-sheep-by-guarding-sheep-not-by-establishing-territories-and-excluding-predators
1746
total views9
total downloads4
views this month0
downloads this month