Predator management is a constant and critical part of sheep production. Without active management, predators will “eat the sheep farmer out of operation.”
The sheep industry actively supports wildlife damage management because it is absolutely crucial to protect our animals from the wasteful death and injury caused by predators. Secondly, sheep producers, like cattle producers, are among the largest private landowners in America and provide a tremendous portion of the total habitat for wildlife in this country. Therefore, managing the damage and conflict from the public owned wildlife on our land (leased or owned) and livestock is a continual balance of land stewardship and animal health.
This page provides a variety of resources on predator management and effective predator control tools.
California Livestock Predators: Status, Characteristics & Options for Control Factsheet
UC Livestock Predator Hub
Predators and grazing livestock rely upon rangeland habitats throughout California (and much of the world), and so livestock-predator conflicts are perhaps inevitable. The Livestock-Predator Information Hub is designed to provide research-based information for rangeland livestock producers and wildlife managers on mitigating and managing potential conflicts. This site offers information on current research and resources on managing predators.
UCANR Livestock Protection Tools for California Ranchers
Livestock Guardian Dogs Factsheet
Documenting Predator Impacts on Livestock: 3 Steps to Take When Finding a Suspected Kill
Livestock Carcass Disposal and Management Information
Livestock Protection/Guardian Dogs (LPDs/LGDs)
Over the last several decades, predator management and livestock protection tools available to the sheep industry have been significantly curtailed and completely eliminated in some circumstances. With the loss of traditional management tools, livestock protection dogs have become an extremely important means to reduce predator attacks on sheep.
Livestock producers use many methods to reduce predation from coyotes, bears, wolves, mountain lions, and domestic dogs. An effective predator management program typically incorporates a variety of methods to increase productivity. Livestock Protection Dogs (LPDs) can be an important component of an overall predation management program. LPDs are working dogs that stay with or near sheep most of the time, with the purpose of aggressively repelling predators. While LPDs are most commonly used to protect sheep, they are also helpful in protecting other livestock from predators.
Signs and brochures informing recreationalists about the presence of livestock protection dogs (LPD) and grazing sheep guarded by LPDs are now available to download from the USDA-APHIS website.
USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services
The mission of USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services (WS) is to provide Federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts to allow people and wildlife to coexist. WS conducts program delivery, research, and other activities through its Regional and State Offices, the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) and its Field Stations, as well as through its National Programs.
Program biologists apply the integrated wildlife damage management approach to provide technical assistance and direct management operations in response to requests for assistance. WS NWRC research scientists are dedicated to the development of wildlife damage management methods.
The Program’s efforts help people resolve wildlife damage to a wide variety of resources and to reduce threats to human health and safety. Funding for the WS Program is a combination of federal appropriations and cooperator-provided funds.
Wildlife Services conducts its activities pursuant to Memoranda of Understanding, other agreements and legal authorities, and conducts environmental review processes to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). WS develops Annual Program Data Reports to provide the public with information about its wildlife damage management activities.
For additional resources and information from WS, visit www.controlpredators.com.
If you suspect predation, because you’ve seen signs of a recent predator, call:
- California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) at 530-215-0751
- Wildlife Services State Office 916-979-2675
- Local Wildlife Services (District Supervisors)
- North District – Derek Milsaps 530-708-0369
- Sacramento District – Ryan McCreary 619-666-6418
- Central District – Brian Popper 209-579-2891
- San Luis District – Eric Covington 661-765-2511
- South District – John Turman 619-561-3752
Click here for California Wildlife Services District Map and contact information.
If you can’t get a hold of the above contacts, then try:
- Local Game Warden – Game Warden Dispatch 916-358-1312
- Northern Region 530-225-2300 / Field Office 707-445-6493
- North Central Region 916-358-2900
- Bay Delta Region 707-944-5500
- Central Region 559-243-4005 ext. 151
- South Coast Region 858-467-4201
- Inland Deserts Region 909-484-0167
Gray Wolves in California
The California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) provides information on gray wolves including current wolf activity reports and a location map, management options for producers to discourage wolf activity, and depredation investigations on its website here.
Information on Gray Wolves
This multi-agency fact sheet overviews gray wolf protections under federal law, methods to discourage livestock depredation by wolves, and how to report wolf sightings and possible wolf-caused livestock depredations.
Wolf Fact Sheet
CDFW fact sheet covering multiple techniques to discourage wolf presence, and how to protect the scene and report suspect wolf depredations on livestock.
Suspected Wolf Depredation on Livestock
Please report possible wolf depredation on livestock, livestock guarding and herding dogs, or other domestic animals to the CDFW, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and/or USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services (contacts below).
To protect the scene prior to agency response, please:
- Avoid walking in and around the area.
- Keep dogs and other animals away to avoid disturbance to the area.
- Place a tarp or other cover over the carcass.
- Preserve potential tracks and scats left by the depredating animal(s) by covering them with cans, buckets, or similar items.
Contacts:
- CDFW – Redding Office 530-225-2300; Kent Laudon 530-225-2186 or Pete Figura 530-225-3224 office, 530-227-3980 cell
- USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services – Derek Milsaps 530-708-0369
- US Fish and Wildlife Service – Elizabeth Willy 541-885-2525
Gray wolves are listed as an endangered species under both the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the California. Endangered Species Act (CESA) and as such, there are prohibitions against “taking” wolves. The ESA defines “take” as “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.” Under CESA, “take” is defined as “hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill” and is prohibited with limited exceptions.
