Coyote predation on domestic sheep deterred with electronic dog-draining collar

Additional methods are needed to deter predators from killing livestock. We tested the effectiveness of an electronic dog-training collar to deter cap tive coyotes (Canis latrans) from killing domestic lambs by shocking coyote s whenever they attempted to attack lambs during a 22-week period. The coll ar averted all 13 attempted attacks on lambs by 5 coyotes, greatly reduced the probability of subsequent attempted attacks, and caused coyotes to avoi d and retreat from lambs for over 4 months (F = 16.28; 1,4 df; P = 0.016). We believe this approach to aversive conditioning has potential to reduce c oyote predation on domestic sheep in limited areas and may apply to a varie ty of other problems involving carnivore predation on domestic or endangere d species.