Guard Llamas Keep Sheep Safe From Coyotes
Cameron Walker
for National Geographic News
June 10, 2003
"Any place where a coyote could come in, people are starting to use llamas," said William Franklin, professor emeritus at Iowa State University. This method of protecting sheep seems to have a wide appeal as a non-lethal way to ward off predators. "It makes the wildlife biologists happy because it's a balance of nature," he said.
Franklin has surveyed ranchers using llamas to protect sheep, and found that llamas seem to be earning their keep. More than half of the llama owners he contacted reported 100 percent reduction in their predator losses after employing the animal as a guard.
The majority of guard llamas in the U.S. are patrolling Western ranches. But with larger predators like coyotes moving eastward, more flock owners might be interested in llamas as guardians.
Guard Llama Characteristics
Llamas are territorial by nature and are instinctively suspicious of canines. Their guanaco ancestors effectively defended their young from wolves, and a number of llamas retain those instincts to pursue and strike at small predators. These llamas can be used to guard sheep, goats, alpacas, mini-horses and mini-donkeys, and occasionally horses or cattle and calves from coyotes and the occasional lone domestic dog.
Unlike livestock guarding dogs, llamas can guard for many years (15 to 20 with good care), usually respect standard fencing, and do not normally require any special feeding. Llamas are also much more easily accepted by dog-fearing livestock.
Most guard llamas consider the flock to be their charges and will also herd the sheep out of danger or stand guard at births. Some guard llamas do not appear to bond to the sheep, but instead defend the general area; such llamas are less effective in larger, open areas. Some llamas do not bond until lambing, kidding, or calving. Most livestock seem to be comfortable with their guard llamas from the outset.
Llamas are capable of making loud noises, but only some individuals give audible warning of dangers they cannot repel. The primary means of defense is to face down, charge, and strike at or stomp on small predators. Larger animals and humans may be charged and either knocked down or kept cornered. A single guard llama will have difficulty deterring a dog pack or coyotes that team up.