Effectiveness of Livestock Guarding Animals for

Reducing Predation on Livestock

William F. Andelt

Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist, Department of Fishery and Wildlife biology, Colorado State University, Fort

Collins, CO 80523; (970) 491-7093; (fax) (970) 491-5091; billan@cnr.colostate.edu

Abstract

Predation is a major problem faced by domestic sheep ( aries ) and goat ( hircus )

producers in the western United States. Producers have been incorporating livestock guarding

dogs ( familiaris ), llamas ( glama ), and donkeys ( asinus ), which appear to be

effective in reducing these mortalities. The increased use of guarding animals to mitigate predation

on livestock may reduce animosity toward predators and result in more positive attitudes

toward the conservation of carnivores.