Feral Dogs
Feral Dog Facts
Identification
In appearance, most feral dogs
are difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish
from domestic dogs. Like
domestic dogs, feral dogs (sometimes
referred to as wild or free-ranging
dogs) manifest themselves in a variety
of shapes, sizes, colors, and even
breeds. McKnight (1964) noted German
shepherds, Doberman pinschers,
and collies as breeds that often become
feral. Most feral dogs today are
descendants of domestic dogs gone
wild, and they often appear similar to
dog breeds that are locally common.
The primary feature that distinguishes
feral from domestic dogs is the degree
of reliance or dependence on humans,
and in some respect, their behavior
toward people. Feral dogs survive and
reproduce independently of human
intervention or assistance.
While it is
true that some feral dogs use human
garbage for food, others acquire their
primary subsistence by hunting and
scavenging like other wild canids.
Feral and domestic dogs often differ
markedly in their behavior toward
people. Scott and Causey (1973) based
their classification of these two types
by observing the behavior of dogs
while confined in cage traps. Domestic
dogs usually wagged their tails or
exhibited a calm disposition when a
human approached, whereas most
feral dogs showed highly aggressive
behavior, growling, barking, and
attempting to bite. Some dogs were
intermediate in their behavior and
couldn’t be classified as either feral or
domestic based soley on their reaction
to humans. Since many feral dogs have
been pursued, shot at, or trapped by
people, their aggressive behavior
toward humans is not surprising.
Gipson (1983) described the numerous
lead pellets imbedded under the skin
of a feral dog caught in Arkansas as a
testament to its relationship with
people.
Feral dogs are usually secretive and
wary of people. Thus, they are active
during dawn, dusk, and at night much
like other wild canids. They often
travel in packs or groups and may
have rendezvous sites like wolves.
Travel routes to and from the gathering
or den sites may be well defined.
Food scraps and other evidence of concentrated
activity may be observed at
gathering sites.
The appearance of tracks left by feral
dogs varies with the size and weight of
the animal. Generally, dog tracks are
rounder and show more prominent
nail marks than those of coyotes, and
they are usually larger than those of
foxes. Since a pack of feral dogs likely
consists of animals in a variety of sizes
and shapes, the tracks from a pack of
dogs will be correspondingly varied,
unlike the tracks of a group of coyotes.
The publication by Acorn and
Dorrance (1990) contains a comparative
illustration of canid tracks.
Range
Feral dogs are the most widespread of
the wild canids. They may occur
wherever people are present and permit
dogs to roam free or where people
abandon unwanted dogs. Feral dogs
probably occur in all of the 50 states,
Canada, and Central and South
America. They are also common in
Europe, Australia, Africa, and on
several remote ocean islands, such as
the Galapagos.
Home ranges of feral dogs vary considerably
in size and are probably
influenced by the availability of food.
Dog packs that are primarily dependent
on garbage may remain in the
immediate vicinity of a dump, while
other packs that depend on livestock
or wild game may forage over an area
of 50 square miles (130 km2) or more.
Habitat
Feral dogs are often found in forested
areas or shrublands in the vicinity of
human habitation. Some people will
not tolerate feral dogs in close proximity
to human activity; thus they take
considerable effort to eliminate feral
dogs in such areas. Feral dogs may be
found on lands where human access is
limited, such as military reservations
and large airports. They may also live
in remote sites where they feed on
wildlife and native fruits. The only
areas that do not appear to be suitable
for feral dogs are places where food
and escape cover are not available, or
where large native carnivores, particularly
wolves, are common and prey on
dogs.
Food Habits
Like coyotes, feral dogs have catholic
diets and are best described as opportunistic
feeders. They can be efficient
predators, preying on small and large
animals, including domestic livestock.
Many rely on carrion, particularly
road-killed animals, crippled waterfowl,
green vegetation, berries and
other fruits, and refuse at garbage
dumps.
Damage and Damage
Identification
Livestock and poultry can be victims
of harassment, injury, and death from
both domestic and feral dogs. Distinguishing
between livestock killed by
domestic or feral dogs and that killed
by coyotes may be difficult since the
mode of attack can be similar. Coyotes
usually attack an animal at the throat;
domestic dogs are relatively indiscriminate
in how and where they
attack. Sometimes, however, dogs kill
the way coyotes do, and young and
inexperienced coyotes may attack any
part of the body of their prey as dogs
would. The survival of feral dogs,
much like that of other wild canids,
depends on their ability to secure food.
Therefore feral dogs are usually adept
predators. Unlike most domestic dogs,
feral dogs rely on their prey for food,
and thus consume much of what they
kill. Feral dogs favor the hindquarters
and viscera (liver, spleen, heart, lungs).
When domestic dogs attack domestic
animals, they may injure or kill several,
but they seldom consume their
victims. Rather, they leave the impression
that they were involved in vicious
play rather than an attempt to obtain
food. The most diagnostic characteristic
of injuries caused by dogs is usually
the slashing and biting of prey animals
over much of their bodies. Wade and
Bowns (1983) and Acorn and Dorrance
(1990) present a detailed pictorial and
descriptive aid to identifying predators
that damage livestock.
Feral dogs may become skilled at
hunting in groups for small game such
as rabbits and hares and large game
including deer and even moose. Some
wildlife managers feel that feral dogs
are a serious threat to deer, especially
in areas with heavy snows (Lowry
1978). Others have found no evidence
that feral dogs pose a significant threat
to deer (Causey and Cude 1980).
Clearly, the impact of feral dogs, both
on livestock and wildlife, varies by
location and is influenced by factors
such as availability of other food, the
number of dogs, and competition by
other predators.
Feral dogs may feed on fruit crops
including melons, berries, and grapes,
and native fruits such as persimmons
and blackberries. Damage to melons is
similar to that caused by coyotes. The
side of a ripe melon is usually bitten
open and the insides eaten.
Feral dogs commonly kill house cats,
and they may injure or kill domestic
dogs. In areas where people have not
hunted and trapped feral dogs, the
dogs may not have developed fear of
humans, and in those instances such
dogs may attack people, especially
children. This can be a serious problem
in areas where feral dogs feed at and
live around garbage dumps near human
dwellings. Such situations occur
most frequently around small remote
towns.
On the Galapagos Islands, feral dogs
have significantly impacted native
populations of tortoises, iguanas, and
birds.
Legal Status
State and local laws concerning feral
and free-ranging dogs vary considerably,
but most states have some regulations.
Many states, particularly those
in the west, permit individuals to
shoot dogs that are chasing or killing
game animals or livestock. State agencies
or agriculture departments usually
are responsible for controlling feral
dogs in rural areas. No states consider
feral dogs to be game animals. Most
cities have animal control agents to
pick up abandoned and free-ranging
domestic dogs.
Damage Prevention and
Control Methods
Exclusion
Protect livestock and poultry from
feral and domestic dogs with wellmaintained
net fences. Horizontal
spacing of the mesh should be less
than 6 inches (15 cm); vertical spacing
should be less than 4 inches (10 cm).
Barbed wire at ground level or a buried
wire apron will discourage dogs
from digging under the fence. The
fence should be about 6 feet (1.8 m)
high to hinder animals from jumping
over. The effectiveness of fences can be
increased by adding one or more electrically
charged wires along the bottom
and top. Charged wires are
positioned so that the intruding dog
encounters them before digging under
or climbing over the fence.
Electric fences consisting of up to 12
alternating ground and charged wires
have been effective at deterring dogs
(Dorrance and Bourne 1980). Other
configurations have also been successful
(Shelton 1984, deCalesta 1983).
Electric fences must be checked regularly
to ensure that the wires are sufficiently
charged. Maintenance of fences
may be difficult in areas with drifting
snow and where large wild animals
are common. Moose and bears can be
particularly destructive to electric
fences.
Fencing is one of the most beneficial
investments in dealing with predator
damage and livestock management if
practicality warrants its use.
Frightening
Several visual and auditory devices
(yard lights, effigies, loud music, pyrotechnics)
have been used to frighten
coyotes from livestock pens and pastures,
and are likely to be effective
with feral dogs.
Researchers at the Denver Wildlife
Research Center developed and tested
a device called the Electronic Guard, a
combination strobe light and siren that
periodically activates during the night.
The noise and light have been effective
in reducing coyote predation on flocks
of sheep. Similar results could reasonably
be anticipated with feral dogs.
Guarding dogs that have been reared
with livestock and trained to remain
with them can be a deterrent to depredating
feral dogs (Green and Woodruff
1991). Since a pack of feral dogs is
quite capable of killing other dogs,
more than one guarding dog may be
needed where feral dogs are a threat.
Donkeys and llamas have also been
used to keep dogs away from livestock.
Repellents
Methyl nonyl ketone, mostly in granular
form or in liquid sprays, is widely
used to prevent urination or defecation
by dogs in yards and storage areas.
Several other chemicals are registered
for repelling dogs including anise oil,
Bitrex, capsaicin, d-linonene, dried
blood, essential oils, napthalene,
nicotene, Ropel, Thiram, Thymol, and
tobacco dust. These chemicals may be
useful in keeping feral dogs from establishing
scent stations or relieving
themselves on selected sites, but they
probably have little value in protecting
livestock or poultry. Capsaicin (oleoresin
of capsicum) and oil of anise may
be effective in protecting humans from
attack by dogs.
Toxicants
There are no toxicants widely used for
controlling feral dogs in the United
States. The USDA-APHIS-ADC program
holds a Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
Section 3 registration for sodium cyanide
used in M-44 delivery devices.
Although the product label for M-44
cyanide capsules lists wild dogs
among the canids that can be controlled
when they are preying on livestock
(others include coyotes and red
and gray foxes), ADC policy prohibits
using M-44s for specifically killing
dogs. Some dogs are killed by M-44s
when they are being used to kill coyotes,
but dogs are not the target animal.
In addition, at least one state has
a law prohibiting ADC from using
M-44s to intentionally kill dogs.
Several states hold their own registrations
for using M-44s, and their policy
with regard to feral dogs may be different
from that of ADC. Consult state
and local regulations with respect to
M-44 use. In all instances, M-44s can
only be used by certified applicators.
Toxic collars containing Compound
1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate)
placed on domestic animals may kill
depredating dogs if the dogs puncture
the collar during an attack. The collars,
however, are only registered for use
against coyotes.
Fumigants
No fumigants are registered for the
control of feral dogs.
Trapping
Live traps are generally effective in
capturing feral dog pups and occasionally
adult dogs. Steel leghold traps
(No. 3 or 4) are convenient and effective
for trapping wild dogs. Carrion
and scent baits used to lure coyotes to
traps may be effective in attracting
feral dogs. Nontarget species or pets
inadvertently captured can be
released. Caution should be exercised
when approaching a dog in a trap,
since feral dogs may be vicious when
confined, and even pet dogs may bite
under those circumstances. Cable neck
snares may be set at openings in fences
or along narrow trails used by dogs.
Use care when setting snares because
they may kill pets or livestock that are
caught.
Shooting
Aerial shooting is one of the most efficient
control techniques available for
killing feral dogs. Where a pack of
damaging feral dogs is established, it
may be worthwhile to trap one or two
members of the pack, fit them with
radio transmitters, and release them.
Feral dogs are highly social, and by
periodically locating the radio-tagged
dogs with a radio receiver, it is possible
to locate other members of the
group. When other members of the
pack are destroyed, the radioed dogs
can be located and shot. This technique
has been used effectively by the
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
to eliminate packs of problem wolves.
Hunting from the ground has been
used to control feral dogs. A predator
call may lure dogs within rifle range.
Establishing a shooting blind can be
helpful, especially along a trail used by
dogs, near a den, a garbage dump, or a
large animal carcass.
Other Methods
Fencing garbage dumps, burying
garbage in sanitary landfills frequently,
or removing livestock carrion
may help reduce local feral dog populations.
Locating and destroying dens,
especially when pups are present, may
also be helpful. Use catch poles to capture
and restrain feral dogs. Dart guns
and jab sticks can be used to administer
tranquilizing or euthanizing agents.
Cultural Considerations
The long-term solution to most problems
caused by unconfined dogs,
including feral dogs, is responsible dog
ownership and effective local dog
management programs. Many depredation
problems can be solved by
confining dogs to kennels or to the
owner’s property. Dog breeding must
be controlled. Unwanted dogs should
be placed for adoption or destroyed
rather than abandoned, since the latter
leads to the formation of free-living,
feral populations.
Dog management programs should
include the following: (1) public educa-
tion about proper care and confinement
of dogs; (2) laws that identify
that dog owners are legally responsible
for damage caused by dogs; (3) laws
that prohibit abandonment of
unwanted dogs and require humane
disposal of unwanted dogs; (4) holding
facilities and personnel trained to
handle unwanted or nuisance dogs;
and (5) assistance by professional
control specialists where feral dogs are
established.
Economics of Damage
and Control
Feral dogs may destroy livestock and
poultry valued at thousands of dollars.
In such instances, the costs of controlling
dogs may be warranted. Boggess
and his co-workers (1978) examined
5,800 claims of domestic livestock lost
to dogs and coyotes in Iowa between
1960 and 1974. Dogs were considered
responsible for 49% of the reported
sheep losses, 45% of the cattle losses,
66% of the swine losses, and 82% of
the poultry losses. Denny (1974) conducted
a Nationwide survey of state
departments of agriculture, wildlife
conservation agencies, and related
agencies to determine problems
caused by unconfined dogs. Damage
to wildlife, especially deer, small
game, and birds was considered the
primary problem caused by dogs.
Damage to game animals may be a
serious local problem. In view of the
value placed on game animals by
hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts,
local control to benefit wild game may
be economically justified. The second
most serious problem reported was
damage to livestock.
*The above information was taken from a University of Nebraska Web site with
express permission of Stephen Vatassel, wildlife damage project coordinator.
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