Coyote Predation Management Tips

03 Mar Coyote Predation Management Tips

Good livestock management practices protect livestock, people and the environment. Check out some of these helpful tips. 

Livestock Husbandry 

When conflicts arise between livestock and coyotes, the primary focus should be on managing livestock effectively to prevent situations that encourage or invite predation. Implementing sound husbandry practices significantly reduces interactions between the two, while carefully analyzing and optimizing land use patterns beforehand helps address potential issues before they develop into serious problems. 

• Closer herd surveillance: Consistent presence of a livestock manager significantly decreases coyote conflicts. First time calvers should not be left unattended in an open range scenario where there is minimal presence of a livestock manager. In the height of calving, multiple smaller visits should be done – especially with smaller livestock (sheep, goats etc.)
• Corralling at night: More of a necessity of smaller, open livestock productions – frequent pen checks are advised.When checking your herd, notice their behavior when coming up to them and walking amongst them – do they seem nervous? Stressed? More alert than their normal.  If there is an active predator, with repeated attacks, this can cause your herd to change their behavior.
• Guard animals: Having a guardian animal is one of the best preventative methods that will deter coyote predation on your farm. Dogs, llamas, alpacas and donkeys have been proven successful to protecting livestock. Your choice can depend on local terrain, acreage, threats, budget and personal preference, it all comes down to what type of guardian animal fits into your operation. Keep in mind that whatever animal you choose will require training, vet care, housing expenses, and additional training.  

Some benefits to the various animals: 

• Guard dogs: Most useful tool to reduce livestock losses to predators. There are various breeds that will be suitable including Great Pyrenees, Akbash, Maremma-Abbruzzi, and Kucasz. They work well in fences and open range operations and are most effective in large flock/ range type operations. Although guard dogs are the best management tool, they to come with a heavier food bill than donkeys and llamas.  It is recommended that if you have a guard dog that you should refrain from using coyote toxicants. If you are using coyote toxicants you MUST follow the proper protocol and training requirements.
• Guard Donkeys: Donkeys are extremely smart with eagle-like hearing and sight. They do not like change in their surroundings so they can quickly target an intruder – interestingly enough, they have heavy dislike of canines! It is recommended to use only 1 donkey within the pasture as gelded jacks can become aggressive towards one another and jenny’s (females) can pack together instead of protecting your herd. They are easy to care for – good pasture or hay and water is all they’ll need. 
• Guard llamas :They can protect your herd from some attacks and are naturally aggressive to canines as well. Their heights can be intimidating to coyotes, though if surrounded by a predator pack, they can be vulnerable towards predation. Typical responses of llamas are chasing, kicking, herding the sheep, and positioning themselves between predator and sheep.  

Dead Animal Disposal

Proper dead-stock disposal is crucial for reducing livestock predation. Predation levels are directly tied to predators’ reliance on these food sources, especially during colder winter months when alternative forage is scarce. Coyote predation on livestock is often a learned behavior, so disrupting it through timely dead-stock removal and secure disposal helps prevent losses by limiting opportunities for learning and exploitation of familiar feeding sites. Even dead animals left within a living herd can attract coyotes, encouraging them to linger in the area and increasing the likelihood of predation. Effective disposal reduces attractants, supports herd health, and complements broader predator management strategies.

• Burial: You may bury a dead animal in a farm burial pit only if: 
  • The bottom of the pit is 1 meter or more above seasonal high-water table, 
  • Total weight of buried animals is less then 2500 kg, 
  • Is further than 100 meters from any water source, residence and boundary of land that you do not own
  • The pit is covered with a minimum of 1-meter compacted soil with no additional dead animals
  • The pit has not been used for the burial of dead animals during a 5-year period. 
• Burning: You may burn deadstock in an open fire or approved incinerator. 
  • Some municipalities require burning permits – consult with your municipalities prior to burning.
  • Burning must be done in accordance with Substance Release Regulation (AR124/93) or the Code of Practice for Small Incinerators.  You can refer to the Disposal of Dead Animals Regulation for selection criteria.
• Natural Disposal/Scavenging: You may allow for scavenging under the conditions that: 
  • The animal is not known or suspected to have reportable or notifiable diseases outlined by the Reportable and Notifiable Diseases Regulation within the Animal Health Act, 
  • Euthanized with drugs or other chemicals
  • The weight does not exceed 1000 kg at one site
  • The minimum distance of 500 meters between sites and any water sources, and
  • Is more than 100 meters from any residence or boundary of another landowner. 
  • You shall not feed any dead animal to a production animal. 
• Composting: The dead animal may be disposed in an outdoor farm compost pile given that it is: 
  • Further than 100 meters from any water source, residence or boundary of another landowner
  • At least 25 meters from the edge of a coulee or embankment
  • At least 300 meters from any provincial highway
  • They must be covered with 60 cm of compost material and must exclude scavenging activities
  • The volume of dead animals cannot exceed 25% of the total volume of pile
  • Material cannot be removed until the dead animals are composted to the extent of minimal odor, not contaminate surface water, not attract other animals, or contribute to the spread of diseases

Fencing

The type of fencing required will depend on several factors such as type and availability of livestock, predator population, time if year, design and quality of the fence, and past predation. The main fencing types are net, electric and/or barbed. Motivation and past experiences with fences will affect their response – if there is a good meal behind the fence, coyotes will figure out a way.  

Electric fencing has been proven to be effective; it also offers an opportunity to use temporary electric fencing to increase rotational grazing. E-fences are easier to maintain and are most cost effective than more permanent fencing.  

However, a fence is only as good as they’re built and designed. They must be grounded properly and have sufficient voltage for your operation.

Lethal Control

• Neck Snares: Constructed from braided steel cable, are a time-tested tool used by fur trappers to capture coyotes, wolves, and foxes – they prove equally effective for removing problem coyotes from farms where livestock predation is occurring. While harmless to birds, snares can inadvertently catch deer, other wildlife, or farm animals if not set properly, so avoid game trails to reduce non-target captures; these snares are available for coyote control under permit, featuring individual numbering and markings for accountability, and must adhere to standards from the Animal Health and Assurance Branch. 
• Compound 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate): Is a white, crystalline, practically tasteless poison with a faint acetate odor and an acid-salty taste – it’s only absorbed through swallowing and acts slowly with symptoms starting in 15-45 minutes, leading to death typically within 24 hours. In the body, it blocks cellular energy production (ATP), causing widespread cell death, organ failure—especially heart and nervous system—and ultimate collapse. Poisoned dogs first show nervous system signs like hyperactivity, howling, running fits, and behaviors mimicking hallucinations or hysteria, followed by cardiac effects with continual body contractions and stretched out running motions until fatal heart failure. There is no antidote—only supportive symptom treatment—and once heart symptoms appear, death is inevitable, underlining its extreme danger to humans, wildlife, pets, and livestock if improperly handled. If you require Compound 1080, you will need your Farmers Pesticide Certificate as well as added training through the Compound 1080 Product Stewardship Course, delivered through Lakeland College. If you are needing to get your Farmers Pesticide Certificate first, please talk to your local Agricultural Fieldman to arrange training and exams. 

If you want a more in-depth version, you can visit: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ad8c433e-a863-40cd-ab1c-3d6c007b2bb5/resource/7e944753-4728-4b21-9ec1-0ba73b30e2d4/download/afred-coyote-predation-control-manual-and-study-guide-2021.pdf