What are the major predators of sheep?In 2019, it was estimated that 71,440 adult sheep and 155,470 lambs were killed by predators in the United States, costing farmers and ranchers almost $121.6 million. In 2019, predation accounted for 32.6 percent of sheep losses and 40.1 percent of lamb losses.Coyotes were responsible for the majority of losses. However, in terms of number of sheep operations affected, free-ranging or wild dogs may be the most common predator problem. Some producers experience few or no problems with predators, while countless others battle the problem or have been driven out of the sheep business due to catastrophic losses.Predator losses in the USPredatorPercent of losses Coyote46.9Domestic dogs33.9Mountain lions4.3 Other14.9Source: Death Loss Trends in the U.S. Sheep Industry: 1994-2019 (June 2022)Natural predators Sheep have many natural predators, including coyotes, wolves, foxes, bears, dogs, eagles, vultures, bobcats, and mountain lions. Sheep are vulnerable to predators because they are largely defenseless and have no means of protecting themselves. Sheep run when something frightens them. Their only protection is to stay together in a group.While there are no documented differences among breeds in vulnerability to predators, breeds with a strong flocking instinct would likely be less vulnerable to predators than those that scatter. On the other hand, some primitive breeds of sheep may have developed unique flight patterns which enable them to successfully elude predators.Means of attack Each predator attacks sheep in a specific way. Coyotes typically go for the throat. Dogs are usually more indiscriminate in how and where they attack. Young or inexperienced coyotes may attack any part of the body as dogs would. Coyotes, foxes, and mountain lions and bobcats usually feed on a carcass at the flanks or behind the ribs and consume viscera such as liver, heart, and lungs.Bears generally prefer meat to viscera and often eat the udder from lactating ewes. Eagles skin out carcasses and leave much of the skeleton intact on larger animals. With lambs, eagles may bite off and swallow the ribs. Smaller predators such as such as coyotes, foxes, and bobcats select lambs over adult sheep. Bears and mountain lions take adult sheep as well as lambs. Coyotes, dogs, bears and mountain lions may kill more than one animal in a single episode, but often only one of the animals if fed upon.Endangered predators Some predators are classified as endangered or threatened species and are protected by federal and/or state laws. These have included Mexican wolves, red wolves, grey wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, and bald eagles. Control of these predators is conducted by federal or state animal damage personnel.Predator controlWhile nothing is 100 percent effective, there are some techniques that shepherds can employ to protect their sheep from predators. The most obvious way is to keep sheep and lambs away from predators, by penning them at night or bedding them nearby. Employing sheep herders will provide some protection from predators. Frightening devices can be useful. Fencing is usually the first line of defense against predators. Certain types of fences (net and high-tensile electric) are more effective at deterring predators. Fencing is particularly effective when incorporated with other methods of predator control, such as livestock guardians.Livestock guardians Livestock guardians have become increasingly popular with shepherds. These include dogs, llamas, and donkeys. Each has pros and cons and have been used successfully to protect sheep. A guardian dog generally stays with the sheep without harming them and aggressively repels predators. Donkeys and llamas have an inherent dislike for dogs and are usually employed in pasture settings. Any animal that displays aggressive behavior to intruding predators can be a deterrent.Lethal control While some people may find lethal methods of predator control, such as shooting, trapping, snaring, denning, and poisoning, distasteful, sometimes they are the only method to remove individual predators, particularly those killing large numbers of sheep. Producers are required to follow federal, state, and local laws governing predators that may prey on their sheep.New techniquesNew and better techniques for controlling predators are constantly under investigation, especially more environmentally-friendly methods that are tech-driven. Swiss biologists developed a collar that sends a text message to the shepherd's phone when the heart rate of attacked animals goes up. Utah State University has developed FlashTags. They are solar-powered ear tags that are motion-activated in the dark. They flash random, disruptive light patterns when a sheep bolts from a predator, effectively scaring off coyotes and wolves. AI Drones can be used to monitor predator threats, even to chase predators away. Remote cameras can provide 24-7 monitoring of common predator trails.New and improved traps and snares are being developed. Lethal methods are becoming more target-specific. Scientists have explored the potential for using reproductive inhibitors in coyotes to reduce the incidence of predation on sheep and other livestock. Sheep farmers in South Africa have developed a protective plastic collar that covers the sheep's cheek and underside of the neck, thus preventing predator access to the throat.

How do livestock protection dogs help protect sheep from predators?There are two types of dogs used on sheep farms: herding dogs and guardian dogs. Herding dogs are used to manage sheep. Guardian dogs are used to protect sheep from predators. Herding dogs need to show dominance, whereas the guardian dog needs to be more submissive in his behavior.BreedsLivestock protection dog breeds were probably among the first dogs to be domesticated. They originate in Europe and Asia, where they have been used for centuries to protect livestock from predators.Some of the more common breeds used in the U.S. include Great Pyrenees (France), Akbash and Anatolian Shepherd (Turkey), Komondor and Kuvasz (Hungary), Maremma (Italy), Polish Tatra (Poland), and Tibetan Mastiff (Tibet). Many of the breeds are related.Great Pyrenees (Pyrenean Mountain Dog) The Great Pyrenees is a very old breed and has been used for millennia by the shepherds which includes Basque people, who inhabit parts of the region in and around the Pyrenees Mountains of southern France and northern Spain. They are descended from the Hungarian Kuvasz and Maremmano-Abruzzese and are considered an aristocratic relative of the St. Bernard and Newfoundland. Anatolian Shepherd The Anatolian Shepherd originates from Turkey and is probably more than 6,000 years old. They are a muscular breed, with thick necks, broad heads, and sturdy bodies. Many Turkish breeders believe that the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a cross of the Kangal dog and the Akbash dog.Komondor King of the Hungarian guarding dogs, the Komondor is a heavy-coated white dog descended from a Russian dog of the steppes called Aftscharka. It has a white corded coat that give a unique appearance.KuvaszThe Hungarian Kuvasz has the Turkish word for "protector" as its name and its country of origin is most likely Tibet. It is a large dog with a dense coat which is usually white in color and can range from wavy to straight in texture.Akbash Akbash comes from the Hungarian word for "white bread." The Akbash dog is found today in rural Turkey, and as far as can be determined, has been serving as a livestock protection dog in Turkey for millennia.Maremma The Maremma is directly descended from the first flock guardians that migrated for the Middle East, probably across the Adriatic from Greece. The Maremma has a solid, muscular build, thick white coat, large head, black nose, and typically weighs between 65 to 110 pounds.Polish Tatra The Polish Tatra Sheepdog is a breed of dog introduced into the Tatra Mountain region of Southern Poland by Wallachian shepherds, probably in the 14th Century, and used to guard and herd sheep. The Tatras are large white dogs with heavy dense fur, similar in appearance to the Hungarian Kuvasz.Tibetan Mastiff The Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient breed, descended from very early large Tibetan dogs from which most of today's Mastiff dogs descend. It is among the largest breeds and is found in a heavier mastiff type and a moderately sized mountain type. Its double coat is long and found in a wide variety of colors from solid black to tri-color with the rarest being white.New breeds The National Wildlife Research Center in Utah has imported several new breeds of livestock guardian dogs to see if they are more effective at deterring predation from "bigger" predators such as grizzly bears and wolves. The new breeds are larger and more aggressive, yet still people-friendly. One of these newer breeds is the Kangal from Turkey.Management Rearing guardian dog pups with sheep creates an attachment or bond between the dog and the sheep. As the dog matures, it spends much of its time near the sheep and repels other animals that enter its personal space. Its aggressiveness is limited by a decrease tendency to chase, a product of generations of selection for dogs that do not chase. Even if the dog chases an intruding coyote away, it soon stops the chase and returns to the flock.Most livestock guardian dogs are large and imposing, weighing 75 to over 100 pounds. They are large enough to startle or intimidate predators.Livestock guardian dogs should be taught basic commands, such as come, sit, and stay, and should learn to walk on a leash. However, the should not be allowed the privileges of a pet. Their job is to bond with the sheep, not the shepherd.Color There is a theory that shepherds tried to match the color of their dogs to the color of the wool of their sheep. This would allow them to blend in, offer less of a scare or threat to the sheep, and make identification by predators more difficult.Pups Growing pups will exhibit guardian instincts as early as four to five months of age, but they will not become reliable protectors until they mature sometime after a year of age. Guardian dog pups are often raised with lambs to encourage bonding. It is also beneficial for them to be "trained" by an older guardian dog.

What other animals can be used as flock guardians? Other animals have proven to be effective guardians of sheep and lambs. Llamas Llamas are naturally aggressive towards coyotes and dogs. Their responses to predators include becoming alert; alarm calling; walking or running toward the predator; chasing; kicking or pawing the predator; or positioning themselves between the sheep and the predator. They have been known to herd the sheep together into one area to keep the safe. Llamas will usually bond with sheep in a few days. A single llama usually works best. An intake male llama may injure ewes as the smell of a ewe in heat is similar to a female llama in heat. In Australia and Europe, Alpacas have been used as flock guardians. Donkeys Donkeys are increasing in popularity as protectors of sheep and goats in the United States. Donkeys have an inherent dislike for dogs and other canids. They will bray, bare their teeth, run and chase, and attempt to bite and kick the intruder. Only a gelded jack or jenny (female) should be used as a livestock guardian since intact males can be aggressive towards livestock. A single donkey will usually bond easily with the sheep. Guardian dogs effectively deter coyote and dog predation in fenced pastures and on open range, whereas llamas and donkeys are best suited to fenced pastures of less than 30 acres. Guardian dogs are more effective in deterring bear and mountain lion predation, whereas some donkeys and possibly llamas are afraid of bears and mountain lions. A flerd Running sheep and cattle together has been shown to reduce predator losses, but in order for mixed species grazing to be an effective deterrent to predators, the sheep and cattle must "bond" together. Young lambs can be bonded with cattle by penning them in confinement close to the cattle. When bonded lambs and cattle are turned out to pasture, the lambs will follow the cattle. When they are threatened by a predator, the lambs will run and huddle among the cattle. A mixed group of cattle and sheep is called a "flerd."

How do sheep protect themselves against predators? Sheep are a prey animal. When they are faced with danger, their natural instinct is to flee not fight. Their strategy is to use avoidance and rapid flight to avoid being eaten. Some primitive sheep breeds may be able to more effectively evade predators, as their natural instincts are stronger. Domesticated sheep have come to rely on man for protection from predators. Safety in numbers After fleeing, sheep will reform their group and look at the predator. They use their natural herding instinct to band together for safety. A sheep that is by itself is vulnerable to attack. Never walk a straight line Sheep tracks are never straight. The winding of trails allows sheep to observe their backside first with one eye, then the other. Sheep can spot dogs or other perceived forms of danger from 1,200 to 1,500 yards away. Keen senses Sheep have excellent senses. Their wide angle of vision allows them to see predators. They can direct their ears to the direction of sound. They are very sensitive to what different predators smell like. Show no pain Sheep have an amazing tolerance for pain. They do not show pain, because if they do, they will be more vulnerable to predators who look for those who are weak or injured.