How to protect goats/sheep from predators

 Today, many goats or sheep have their lives put at risk due to wild predators lurking about in nearby fields, or forests. Often times, coyotes are the biggest issue, but there may be cases of wolves, cougars or even bears, for that matter. To find out how you can protect your goats and sheep from predators in two easy steps continue reading!

Part 1; How to find out if there are predators in your area and what kind (coyotes, wolves, etc)


This is a very important step. You must find out if there are predators in your area,  and find out what kind. If you live in an area with fields, then you most likely will have numerous encounters with coyotes. If you live in a forest area, then you will probably have encounters with all 4 of the most popular goat/sheep predators, and if you live in a forest and field area, then you may encounter all 4, and even more (depending on where you live). Ask locals and other farmers in your area of their most common encounters.

Part 2; Now that you know what kind of predators you must protect your goats/sheep from, find out how you can prevent the predator's attacks.

If you discover you have a pack of coyotes in your general area, then set up catch and release traps, or have taller fences built (or even electric fences if it makes you feel better).  But this still doesn't prevent coyotes from digging underneath the fences. Often times, many farmers will have a guard dog just for their livestock, and many great kinds of livestock guardian dogs are: Great Pyrenees, German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheep Dogs, etc. Many people say Shepherds are just for herding sheep/goats, but they are very protective of what's theirs, and as long as you teach them at a young age that the goats are to be kept safe and left in the dog's care, then they will know not to let anything happen to them. If it's a bear or a cougar, then it is best to call someone professional to flush the animal out of the area, or have them relocated. Don't forget, cougars and bears have no problem killing humans or dogs, so they will most definitely have no problem hunting and killing an animal closely related to deer, their regular meals. Same goes with wolves, and even sometimes coyotes. Depending on how regularly the predator visits the area, then it will change your options. If you realize it was a once in a life time visit, then try to just secure your goat's/sheep's living area after the first visit. But if you discover it's night after night process, then act fast and follow the rules above.


 A common choice of sheep/goat guardians (Pyrenees)