Predators and Predation

Predation

Predation

What is predation?

What is Predation?

A mode of life which food is obtained by killing and consuming other animals

Purely natural phenomenon Problem when predators become

too abundant Unacceptable for humans to share

livestock for prey

Predation cont. Most species of farm and ranch

livestock have at times been subject to predation

In the U.S. swine and poultry are produced in confinement and are protected

This is not the case for grazing ruminants

Predation cont.

To the producer the most serious predator is the one causing trouble at a specific time and place

In monetary terms the beef cattle industry has suffered the greatest loss due to their greater value and larger numbers

Predation NumbersTable 1.

Losses of All Goats: Number by Predators,

 

Diseases or Other Known Causes, Unknown Causes, and Total Value, 2004  

Losses Total Value  

Item Goats Kids All Goat Losses  

Head Head 1,000 Dollars

Predator 40,000 115,000 15,965

Diseases and Other Known Causes

60,000 120,000 18,540

Unknown Causes 29,200 51,000 8,261

Total 129,200 286,000 42,766

(Table 1.) Dervived from Nass Publication Sheep AND Goat Death Loss Released May 6, 2005.

Predation losses

When losses are expressed as a function of value by the industry, sheep and goat producers suffer far greater losses.

Traditionally the sheep and goat industries have had much of the burden of maintaining predation management programs.

Predation

Predation is one of the chief reasons cited by producers when they leave sheep and goat production.

Not only by wild predators but domesticated animals as well.

Value of animals killed by predators not the only cost associated with predation.

Predation costs Animals killed Lost performance Improved fencing Night

confinement Early weaning

Predator control Unable to utilize

available resources

Increased labor costs

Stress on producers

Identifying Predation

The most difficult part of controlling predation may be identifying the exact cause of predation.

Predators

Domestic Dogs Coyotes Vultures

(black and turkey) Bobcats

Wild or Feral Swine

Mt. Lions Bears

(grizzly and black) Fire Ants

Domestic Dogs

Feral dogs/pets

Most dog attacks occur at night or early morning

Dogs trapped in studies have been traced back to homes

Dead animals found with no mutilation show that dogs kill for fun

Feral dogs/pets 1983 Journal of Range Management July

vol.36(4) published a paper based on surveys of sheep producers in Ohio and found that no geographic part of the state was immune to dog predation and time of year did not effect losses.

Most dogs trapped in the for mentioned study were well fed and groomed

Dogs cont.

Many dogs killing livestock are usually free roaming, loving family pets

Many dog owners are unaware of what their pets are into after dark or when the pets are out of sight

Dogs cont.

Pet dogs usually kill for fun but wild dogs kill for a source of food

Goats killed by dogs that have been fed upon resemble coyote predation

Many goats killed by dogs die from shock or stress and even the smallest dog can kill goats

Dog Control

Stronger leash laws Shooting Leg hold traps Large cage traps Snares

Differences between dog and coyote predation

Coyotes tend to kill quickly Coyotes typically kill one or two

animals close to cover Coyotes eat on abdominal cavity

first Coyotes are probably responsible if

small animals are missing

Predation differences cont.

Dogs will kill any time of day Dog attacks last longer Dogs attack for chase/ making

whole group of animals nervous Dogs will attack many animals and

many animals will show wounds

Coyotes

Coyote Identification

Males weigh up to 45lbs Females weigh about 40lbs Colors from almost black to nearly

white Have been known to hybridize with

dogs and wolves

Coyotes cont.

Coyote biology

Coyotes very easily adapt to all environments and thrive throughout most of the United States

Coyotes adapt to and thrive even in urban areas

Coyote Biology

Most active at night or early morning Keen since of smell Very good eye sight/hearing Fast up to speeds of 40 miles per

hour Litters of up to 13 young Very social animals

Coyote diets Carrion Ungulates (fawns) Insects Rodents Rabbits

(preference)

Fruits/vegetables Small dogs House cats Livestock Humane refuse etc

Coyote predation

Usually worse in spring and summer Due to food demands of raising young Not as many usual prey species

available Producers may see an increase in the

fall due the dispersion of yearling coyotes

Coyote predation cont.

Attack adult goats in throat Death usually results from

suffocation or shock Young goats killed by biting head,

back or spine Usually small livestock are never

found, sometimes only a bloody spot remains

Coyote predation cont.

Larger livestock generally attacked in flanks while giving birth

A real problem exists just knowing a coyote killed the animal in question

Predation photos can be viewed at:http://texnat.tamu.edu/ranchref/predator/coyote/p-coyote.htm

Coyote control

Shooting Trapping/snaring Fencing Night penning

Coyote control assistance

USDA Wildlife Services

Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency

State trapping associations for a list of local trappers

Coyote paths under fences

Coyote summary

Coyotes are creatures of habit Once animals become an easy food

source coyotes will return Coyotes also carry and spread a

whole host of parasites and diseases Good fencing and dead animal

disposal will help deter coyote predation

Vultures

Vultures (buzzards)

Two types in Tennessee

Turkey and Black

Vulture ID

Black vultures have grey heads, black bodies and the underside of their wings are gray in color with white patches on their wing tips

Turkey vultures resemble wild turkeys hence the name (turkey) vultures

Vultures cont.

Both types of vultures specialize in locating and feeding on carrion, but Black vultures at times are predatory

Black vultures are the main concern for livestock producers

Black vultures

Black vultures have a very broad diet, but unlike most other vultures it will subdue, capture and eat live prey

Prey include, birds, skunks, opossums, turtle hatchlings, fish and all types of newborn livestock

Black vulture predation. Black vultures do not locate food by

smell but by sight and commonly follow Turkey vultures to food sources

Vultures are communal animals and roost together in large numbers and seem to hunt together in large numbers

Black vultures usually attack live prey in large numbers

Vulture predation cont.

Vultures commonly attack weak newborn animals

Prey animals are usually attacked in the eyes, nose or navel first

Vulture predation is hard to determine because producers do not know if the animal was dead before preyed upon

Keys to stop Vulture predation

Dispose of dead animals or after birth

Kid in covered sheds close to human activity

Scare off or harass problem animals

Disrupt Vulture roosts

Vulture predation cont. Remember vultures are federally

protected Permits for control have to be obtained

from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service at 1-866-487-3297

Vulture predation photos can be viewed at http://texnat.tamu.edu/ranchref/predator/birds/p-birds.htm

Feral Swine

Swine ID

Feral swine in Tennessee is defined as any wild hog except those found on Catoosa, South Cherokee and Foothills Wildlife Management areas

May be any color/depends on degree of hybridization

All fit under the generic term wild pig

Swine predation Hogs will prey on livestock usually

during periods of drought when mast and other food is scarce

Usually occurs in birthing areas due to prevalence of afterbirth

Whole animal is usually consumed and the only evidence may be a bloody spot where feeding occurred

Rooting at the scene may be the only evidence of hog predation

Swine control

Fencing Shooting/Night hunting (permit

required) Hunting/chasing with dogs Cage traps Snares

Black Bear

Bear predation Few bears learn to kill livestock Once they develop the behavior they

will persist Usually leave very large claw and tooth

marks Multiple kills will usually occur on sheep

and goats Killed animals will usually be covered

with debris and eaten later as bears usually return at dusk

Bear control

Good fencing/electric Destroy carrion Large tunnel traps Pyrotechnic devices may help with

control Predation Permits can be obtained

from TWRA

Fire Ants

Fire Ant biology

Colonies live in mounds Mounds found in the open Winged reproductive males and

females make mating flights Land and start new colonies May be 100,000 or more worker

ants per colony

Fire Ant biology cont.

Both single and multi-queen colonies TN mostly single queen colonies Can build 40-80 colonies per/acre Spread naturally by mating flights Many are moved by man As of 2005, 41 TN counties under

quarantine

Fire Ants cont.

When mound disturbed workers rush out to sting

Most humans react with pustule/some require immediate medical attention

Fire Ants problems ! Reduce hay yields Break farm

equipment Cut germinating

seedlings Multi sting

capability Deter hand labor

Damage irrigation equipment

Cause electrical shorts

Kill confined animals/newborns

Kill wild animals Etc.

Fire ant mounds are often the first sign of their presence.

Fire Ant Densities

Fire Ants cont.

Damage in US estimated at $6 billion even though they infest only 320 million acres in all or parts of 13 states and 1 territory

Fire Ant Damage

Assessment needed to determine when and where to treat

Farmers may not include every loss caused by fire ants

Dead goats or infested bales are losses but what about all the other losses

Fire Ant treatment options

Eradication (not an option) Cost about $15/acre to treat May be feasible to treat if damage

is more than $15/acre Treat confinement areas or kidding

areas

Fire Ants non-chemical control

Schedule kidding during cool weather

Move hay bales quickly before ants infest bales

Store bale off the ground

Fire Ants chemical control

Baits labeled for pastures (AmdroPro, Extinguish and Esteem

Carbaryl (Sevin) for individual mound treatments

These two different methods are called the Texas Two-Step method

Keys to predation control

Evaluate problem Good fencing!!!! Record keeping Night confinement Good sanitation (dead animal

disposal)

Helpful Phone Numbers United States Department of

Agriculture/Wildlife Services USDA/WS 1-866-487-3297

Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA)

East TN 1-423-587-7037 Plateau 1-931-484-9571 Middle TN 1-615-781-6622 West TN 1-731-423-5725

Helpful numbers cont.

Trapping Associations West TN Furtakers 1-901-476-5953 TN Fur Harvesters 1-615-883-3696 TN Freetrappers 1-615-672-8546

Questions??