livestock protection dog study update...kangal, karakachan, cão de gado transmontano, white dogs...
TRANSCRIPT
Julie K. Young, Ph.D. & Daniel Kinka
Livestock Protection Dog Study Update
Objective
Identify which breeds of LPDs are effective at protecting livestock from wolves & grizzly bears
Study sites
Kangal, Karakachan, Cão de Gado Transmontano, white dogs
Breeds
Behavior data via focal sampling & simulations
Methods
Simulation tests
Methods
Results - behavior
Results - behavior
Behavior~Decoy+LGDBreed+LGDSex+LGDAge+Decoy*LGDBreed
3 breeds = more vigilant to wolfWhite dogs & transmontano = more investigatory to wolf
Deer Wolf
Results - posture
Posture~Decoy+LGDBreed+LGDSex+LGDAge+Decoy*LGDBreed
Kangal & Karakachan = more likely upright to wolf & deerKarakachan = 2x more likely upright vs whitedog to wolf
Deer Wolf
Results - proximity
Karakachans = more likely to attend to sheep* Transmontanos = more likely to attend to wolf decoy*Kangals = equally likely attend to sheep or wolf decoy*
*compared to whitedogs
Deer Wolf
Proximity~Decoy+LGDBreed+LGDSex+LGDAge+Decoy*LGDBreed
Results - sound
Kangals & Karakachans = bark less than whitedogsTransmontano = bark less, but not significant
Deer Wolf
Sound~Decoy+LGDBreed+LGDSex+LGDAge+Decoy*LGDBreed
Preliminary conclusion
A dog is a dog is a dog?
More to come!
Sheep survival across treatmentsvia competing risk analysis
Predator/Dog/Sheep space usevia co-occurrence models
Human perceptions via hazard-acceptance model
Other studies
Who visits M-44s?
832 site days (n = 22 M-44s)
1,597 visits by 18 species other than coyotes & 29 visits by coyotes (2.8:1)
Coyotes more likely to touch M-44s (0.24:1)
Highly selective for canids
M-44s
• Captive coyote study
• Determine height: 15-18 cm ground
• Field study in North Dakota
• Paired modified & normal heights @ sets
• Coyotes only pulled 1 modified height BUT there was no pulls by nontarget canids
Modifications not useful in areas with just coyotes but may allow use of M-44s in areas where non-
target species are a concern
M-44s – reducing nontarget canid uptake
Designs least likely to coil: shower curtain & top-knot
Fladry – improve product design
Thank you