Predators and Predation

1. Predators and Predation Predation

2. Predation • What is predation?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Animals killed Lost performance Improved fencing Night confinement Early weaning Predator control Unable to utilize available resources Increased labor costs Stress on producers Predation costs

10. Identifying Predation • The most difficult part of controlling predation may be identifying the exact cause of predation.

11. Domestic Dogs Coyotes Vultures (black and turkey) Bobcats Wild or Feral Swine Mt. Lions Bears (grizzly and black) Fire Ants Predators

12. Domestic Dogs

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Dog Control • Stronger leash laws • Shooting • Leg hold traps • Large cage traps • Snares

18. 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

19. 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

20. Coyotes

21. 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

22. Coyotes cont.

23. 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

24. 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

25. Carrion Ungulates (fawns) Insects Rodents Rabbits (preference) Fruits/vegetables Small dogs House cats Livestock Humane refuse etc Coyote diets

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. Coyote control • Shooting • Trapping/snaring • Fencing • Night penning

30. Coyote control assistance • USDA Wildlife Services • Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency • State trapping associations for a list of local trappers

31. Coyote paths under fences

32. 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

33. Vultures

34. Vultures (buzzards) • Two types in Tennessee • Turkey and Black

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. Feral Swine

43. 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

44. 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

45. Swine control • Fencing • Shooting/Night hunting (permit required) • Hunting/chasing with dogs • Cage traps • Snares

46. Black Bear

47. 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

48. Bear control • Good fencing/electric • Destroy carrion • Large tunnel traps • Pyrotechnic devices may help with control • Predation Permits can be obtained from TWRA

49. Fire Ants

50. 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