Success StoryPredator Control and Guard Animals



Predator Control and Guard Animals

Author: Jay Hettmansperger

Planning Unit: Garrard County CES

Major Program: Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals

Plan of Work: Improving Agricultural Income

Outcome: Initial Outcome

The problem

Sheep and goat producers are constantly having to watch their livestock, especially the babies for predators that are looking for an easy meal.  Part of raising small ruminants like sheep and goats is keeping predators like coyotes from reducing the flock. Two ways of keeping the coyotes in check is to trap them or to use guard animals to keep them away or kill them.  Trapping takes some experience and knowledge of how and where to set traps.  Guard animals can be dogs or donkeys.  There are many different breeds of animal guard dogs to choose from and can be quite difficult to decide which breed fits your needs.


The educational program response

Multiple County Extension Offices came together to present a program centering around predator control by trapping or the use of guard animals.  Expert trappers were invited to put on a program specifically on how to trap coyotes.  These trappers demonstrated different types of traps and how they work.  They showed how to set and where to place the traps to be the most effective against coyotes.  There were also guard dog breeders there to display and talk about different dog breeds used as guard animals.



The participants/target audience

The program was open to the public but was mostly targeted toward producers that had sheep, goats or other small ruminants.  


Other partners (if applicable)

Partnering in this program was SEKPA - Southeast Kentucky Sheep Producers Association, Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office and Kentucky State University Small ruminant specialist.


Program impact or participant response.

There were approximately 40 producers in attendance.  One hundred percent of the participants stated that they gained a greater knowledge of how coyotes hunt their prey and how that relates to trapping them.  






Stories by Jay Hettmansperger


Dealing with High Input Cost

about 2 years ago by Jay Hettmansperger

High input costs have put a strain on producer profits. Fertilizer and fuel prices have more than do... Read More


University of Kentucky Beef Conference

about 2 years ago by Jay Hettmansperger

In order to prepare producers to be efficient and profitable, Central Kentucky County Extension Agen... Read More


Stories by Garrard County CES


What the Outdoors Can Teach Us

What the Outdoors Can Teach Us

about 2 years ago by Eric Comley

The value of being outside is universal. Despite our best efforts to build a world in screens and in... Read More


beyond the basics-sewing classes

beyond the basics-sewing classes

about 2 years ago by Mary Hixson

Asked to teach beginning sewing class for sewists that have a little bit of experience but wanted to... Read More