Wildlife responses to livestock guard dogs and domestic sheep on open range

Domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are an attractant to carnivores; however, often accompanied by humans and livestock guardian dogs (LGDs; Canis familiaris), which defend from depredation. Sheep also compete directly with wildlife for grazing resources. Although practiced millennia in much of the world outside North America, effect that transhumance has on is poorly understood. To test bands (sheep, humans, LGDs) wildlife, we modeled detection probability wild mammals relative presence Northwestern United States. band was associated a reduction about half likelihood detecting large carnivores (Ursus americanus, Ursus arctos, lupus, Puma concolor, p < 0.05) deer (Odocoileus spp., 0.01), both while present after it left area. Contrastingly, coyotes (Canis latrans) were more than three times as likely be detected when (p 0.001), twice 0.01). Coyotes only species present. It unclear how long these effects persist moved through area, but our results suggest temporarily displaces many mammals, mesopredator release coyotes. This study suggests there tradeoff between conservation benefits provided LGDs protecting costs displacement some mammals.