Notice of Hearing on the Application to Use Sodium Fluoroacetate ...

, 17
A' ~nat ihere is 2 41 reciz relai:anshlj be-.:.i?en -.no nui;z?r -,f ZD?:?S
ana preoari on l asses <strong>of</strong> i iuesmck. Spponenrs <strong>of</strong> rne rzgi iiraci o~
oi 1083 dispure this zsiumption.
23. Tests <strong>of</strong> chcqical repellanis as a neans <strong>of</strong> reducing coyote pr?daxion
have been discsnxinuei by FWS and USDA as sflowing no pramise <strong>of</strong>
effective predator control. There is no substantiai evidence in
the record to contradicx these conclusions. Strobe-lights, sirens
and propane exploders or zon guns have dlia been tested and u:i:izei
-
in attemprs t3 control ar reduca preiatron by c~yotes. tests by
the PAS uti 1 i zing sxrabe-1 i gnt/si ren devices have shown encauragi nc
results in reducing oredatisn over 1 imiied psriods <strong>of</strong> time. it 'fitas
recognized, however, ihat additional dark was necessary to identify
1 i , e. g. , 1 ight, so~nd record! ngs , etc. , ;ha: iicuid most
eilecti vely resel cayctes. Other evidence in the record is to the
effect that 1 ighn are corally ineifsccive in reducing coyote
predation 2nd that coyotes quick1 y become habi tuared to expi oders
or zon guns. It is ccncluded that repellants, chemical or mechanical,
have not been shown ro be an effective method <strong>of</strong> deterring or
controlling pradation.
24. Guard dogs have apparently been used to protecx 1 ivestock from
predatsrs in Europe and Asia for hundreds <strong>of</strong> yeirs. Guard dogs
protect livestock not so much by attacking predators, but simply
by their presence deterring predators from attacking l ives;ock. The
record reveals that in some instances, chiefly small fenced ?astures,
guard dogs can be effecclve in reducing predation. Guard dogs are,
however, expensive. The purchase price ranging from $300 to as
much as ~BUU each. Noreover, rhe dogs require extensive training