Livestock and predator control

Livestock and predator control
By Larry Hyslop

Coyotes are the main predators on livestock in Eastern Nevada. Photo from USFWS

The mission statement for Wildlife Services is to protect agriculture, natural resources, property along with human health and safety, from the threat of injury, damage or resource loss due to wildlife.

Joe Bennnett is the District Supervisor for the Eastern Region. His 12-14 employees (some are seasonal) loan out traps to homeowners having problems with skunks or badgers. They also offer technical information to the people of Eastern Nevada, but most of their time is spent protecting livestock from predators.

Wildlife Service’s monthly newsletter, “The Trapline” details the work done during July of this year. Across the state, 97 coyotes were killed. Locally, the following highlights the type of work done. Three lambs were found dead in northern White Pine County, valued at $525, and two mountain lions were pursued with dogs and killed. In southern Elko County, four lambs were found dead, worth $700, and nine coyotes were therefore trapped and killed. Four lambs lost, valued at $700, caused the death of a male lion while in another action, three lambs killed, worth $525, resulted in seven coyotes killed.

A large gold mine in Elko County reported ravens building nests in electrical components and defecating in an area frequented by personnel. Prior to calling Wildlife Services, the mine tried non-lethal means, and continues to do so, but decided these means were not enough. Wildlife Services personnel poisoned 36 ravens at the site. Wildlife Services also worked with NDOW on projects to protect wildlife in Hunt Area 241 by killing 10 coyotes and attempting to snare lions.

During May, 253 coyotes were killed statewide. Coyotes then have pups so when five lambs were killed in Elko County, worth $625, four coyotes were killed and the contents of one den “removed”. Two lambs, worth $350, resulted in three adults killed and a den “removed”. Sage Grouse were also nesting in May, so 16 badgers, 17 coyotes, and “many” ravens were killed to promote Sage Grouse nest survival in Elko, White Pine and Lincoln Counties.

Wildlife Services personnel try to stop or minimize livestock losses with a minimal impact on predator populations. Mountain lion and coyote management begins only after losses are confirmed and predicted to continue. Most of Nevada’s sheep are grazed on open range. Predators are the number one cause of sheep losses.

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