Predation, primarily by coyotes and domestic dogs, is an irritating reality to many sheep producers. During 1994, about 368,000 sheep and lambs valued at close to $18 million were killed by animal predators in the United States, and coyotes were responsible for over 66 percent of that total. Producers who must employ various methods of predation control and who are unable to efficiently use some parcels of land because of predation sustain additional dollar loss. Predators damage not only livestock but also crops, forest resources, other wildlife, and personal and public property. In some instances they threaten human health and safety. Therefore, the total economic loss from predators is considerable.

Although predation is considered a problem for the entire sheep industry, its magnitude is highly variable among producers. Geography is a key factor. Producers in the West are concerned most about coyotes, but bears and mountain lions are also serious predators in some areas. Producers in the Midwest and East contend frequently with domestic dogs, although coyotes have extended their range across the continent. Losses to predators may be high where sheep graze on public range and in mountainous terrain, conditions often associated with large-scale western range operations. Conversely, many farm flock producers have few or no predation problems.

The coyote is often the focus of attention when discussing predators of livestock. Most of this chapter will deal with resolving coyote depredation. The cunning, resiliency, and adaptability of the coyote are legendary, and probably no other North American predator has had more control techniques targeted against it to prevent it from killing sheep. Historically, commonly used lethal controls included traps, snares, denning, poisoned baits, calling and shooting, aerial shooting, coursing with dogs, and coyote getters set gun that used a charge of gunpowder to shoot a compound (typically sodium cyanide) into the mouth of a coyote pulling the device.

In the early 1960s, changing public attitudes toward wildlife led to virtual removal of toxicants as a control technique. (Toxicants are currently used in M-44s and toxic collars as discussed later.) In addition, special interest groups continue to call for restrictions on the use of traps and other removal methods. Understanding and dealing with the predation issue are important, then, not only for sheep producers but also for those interested in the wise use of natural resources.

Despite their notoriety, not all predators (coyotes included) kill sheep or other livestock. Predators are an integral part of most wildlife communities, and their predation on rodents and rabbits and feeding on carrion may even benefit agriculture in some areas. The challenge to sheep producers becomes that of effective predation prevention without unnecessary adverse impact on the nationÕs natural resources. This chapter presents information on the broad spectrum of predation control. Successful sheep production requires knowledge and application of health care, nutrition, physiology, and marketing principles. For many sheep producers, information about predation management is no less important.