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

in that as much as i;JO ysars T E diapse ~ from the xire <strong>of</strong> acquiring
- -
a ?up before 1'. can 3e deiersl nec ineraer i I 1 be er:ec~:ve ai
a nature dag. Ic is clear ha^ guard do~s require supervisisn 2nd
a great deal <strong>of</strong> patient attention, that not every dog will develop
'nto an effective guard dog and that some dogs przy on sheep cney
are suppose to proceci. Although a survey in the record <strong>of</strong> rlnchers
using guard d is in llorth Gakota indicated good o excsl I ent resul tr ,
ranchers wno ~~stified at the hearing ~ho attemoted using guard
dogs did not have gocd ?x?eriences, indicjting chat it was di fficalI t
to keep the dogs with the sheep, that the dogs became shee? killers
or that the dogs wonder;?d onro neighboring ;asturPs and Idere snot.,
25. Shed Ianhi ng can reduce losses <strong>of</strong> lambs due to weather, lanbing
ccmpi i cati ons, mai nutri ii on, di ssase and oxher Causes. Yhi 1 e ewes
and lambs aro subject to lit~le or no predation duriqg the ~eriod
<strong>of</strong> confinement, $redatjon can begin again or ccntinue once i he
sheep are released into pastures or ranges. Shed lambing is labor
intensive and is not an alternative method <strong>of</strong> reducing predation.
Herder; are essential to control and lock after sheep in open ranTe
si tua ti ons , A1 though addi ti anal herders cou? d in theory reduce,
predation losses, experienced herders are in short supply and the
cost <strong>of</strong> employing and maintaining them (as much as $1600 a xonth)
nay not be economical ly feasi bl e.
26. It is theoretically possible to build fences in such a manner as to
exclude coyotes. Testimony at the hearing centered on the question <strong>of</strong>
the effectiveness <strong>of</strong> electric fencing in reducing predation. Evidence