Donkeys (Equus assinus) are described and their availability discussed. Key points which appear important in successfully using a donkey for reducing predation on livestock are presented

Green, Jeffrey S.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 4 - Fourth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (1989) Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conferences September 1989 DONKEYS FOR PREDATION CONTROL Jeffrey S. Green USDA, APHIS, Animal Damage Control Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ewdcc4  Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons Green, Jeffrey S., "DONKEYS FOR PREDATION CONTROL" (1989). 4 - Fourth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (1989). 19. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ewdcc4/19 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conferences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in 4 - Fourth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (1989) by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. DONKEYS FOR PREDATION CONTROLJeffrey S. Green1ABSTRACTDonkeys f Equus assinus) aredescribed and their availabilitydiscussed. Key points whichappear important in successfullyusing a donkey for reducingpredation on livestock arepresented.INTRODUCTIONOne result of changing publicattitudes towards wildlife andthe environment in the 1960'swas the 1972 ban on usingtoxicants in Federal predationcontrol programs. Althoughthere are now several exceptionsto this ban, public sentimentcontinues to favor using andfinding more innocuoustechniques for reducing predatordamage to livestock. Federalagencies have responded byconducting research to improvethe effectiveness, selectivity,and humaneness of existingcontrol tools and searching fornew methods (Fall 1984, Green1987).One idea that has beenresearched in recent years isusing various types of animalsto protect livestock frompredators. Results from studiesshowing success with guardingdogs (Green and Woodruff 1988)and cattle (Hulet et al. 1987)have been published in thescientific literature.Anecdotal accounts of severalother livestock guardingspecies, most notably llamas(Lajna. glama) and donkeys (asses,Equus assinus), have appeared inthe popular literature.Although no formal researchHfildlife biologist, livestockguarding dog specialist, USDA,APHIS, Animal Damage Control,Dubois, ID 83423.has been reported for these twospecies, interest in their useis increasing.This paper presentsinformation on using donkeys forpredation control, focusing onapparent key concepts identifiedby livestock specialists andproducers.I thank J. Conter, T. Gooch,D. Heinze, F. R. Henderson, M.Shelton, H. Sherrets, S.Umberger, and M. Walton forinformation used in this report.M. Shelton, S. Umberger, and M.Walton reviewed the manuscript.DISCUSSIONDescriptionDonkeys are small asses, andlike their close relatives,horses (£. caballus), they comein all sizes (mammoth, standard,and miniature) and colors. Thestandard size is used mostcommonly for predation control.The name "donkey," is derivedfrom the English word "dun,"which describes the usual color(Evans et al. 1977). Males areknown as "jacks," females as"jennets11 or "Jennys."Burros are the small so-called native asses of NorthAmerica, having been broughthere by early Spanishexpeditions. They are a blendof many breeds originating inEurope and the Middle East. TheSpanish translation of "donkey"is "burro." Thus the termsdonkey and burro are synonymous(Evans et al. 1977), and thenames are used interchangeably.Donkey will be the term ofchoice in this report.AvailabilityDonkeys can be obtained atstockyard auctions throughoutthe United States, but they are83not abundant. Some registeredstock may be expensive, but mostanimals sell for one hundred toa few hundred dollars. Onefarmer in Kansas rents guardingdonkeys to sheep producers for$100 a year (F. R. Henderson,pers. commun.). Many donkeys inuse today come directly orindirectly from wild (feral)stock.Federal adoption program —Feral donkeys have been underprotective federal governmentcontrol and management since theWild Free-Roaming Horse andBurro Act was passed in 1971.The Bureau of Land Managementand U. S. Forest Serviceadminister the program and areresponsible for managing theanimals at appropriatepopulations levels.Feral donkeys are foundprimarily in Arizona, Nevada,and California with far lessernumbers in Oregon and Utah. In1988 the population estimate forferal donkeys was 5,464, and theestimated appropriate managementlevel was set at 3,477 (U. S.Forest Service and Bureau ofLand Management 1989).Achieving the desireablemanagement level requiresrounding-up and disposing ofexcess aniiials. In fiscal years1986 and 1987, 1,283 and 1,291donkeys, respectively, wereremoved from federal lands.Several more years of harvestwill be required to reach thetarget management level, andperiodic removal will likely berequired to maintain the desirednumber of animals. Thus feralstock will be available for theforeseeable future.Healthy donkeys are offeredfor adoption at a fee of $75each, and »ost are adopted.Since 1972 when the programbegan, 13,229 donkeys have beenadopted by people from 48 stateswith California and Texas takingthe majority (U. S. ForestService and Bureau of LandManagement 1989). Most donkeysare adopted to become pets,breeding stock, or livestockguardians.BLM data from the SouthDakota Resource Area indicate anincrease in the number ofdonkeys adopted for use inpredation control since 1988(1988, 62% of 50 donkeys; 1989,73% of 113 donkeys; 1990, 79% of114 donkeys [1990 data based onapplications received as ofAugust 1989], D. Heinze, pers.commun.).ManagementThere are several key pointsto consider when using a donkeyfor predation control.1. Use only a jenny or agelded jack. Intactjacks are too aggressiveand may injure livestock.Some jennys may alsoinjure livestock.2. Use only one donkey pergroup of sheep. Theexception may be a jennywith a foal. When 2 ormore adult donkeys aretogether or with a horse,they usually staytogether, not necessarilynear the sheep. Alsoavoid using donkeys inadjacent pastures sincethey may fraternizeacross the fence andignore the sheep.3. Allow about 4-6 weeksfor a naive donkey tobond to the sheep.Stronger bonding mayoccur when a very youngdonkey is raised frombirth with sheep.4. Avoid feeds containinganabolic agents likemonensin (Rumensin) andlasolacid (Bovatec) asthese are poisonous todonkeys. Donkeys also84may founder if they eata lot of prepared sheepfeed.5. Remove the donkey duringlambing, particularlyif lambing inconfinement, as aprecaution againstaccidental or intentionalinjuries to lambs ordisruption of the lamb-ewe bond.Fences in good repair are arequirement where donkeys areused as they will find holes andescape wherever they are able.Although donkeys arereportedly generally docile topeople, they seem to have aninherent dislike for dogs fCanisfamiliaris) and presumably othercanids including coyotes (£.latrans) and foxes (Vulpesvulpes^. The typical responseof a donkey to an intrudingcanid is vocalization (braying),baring its teeth, and a runningattack punctuated with attemptsto kick and bite the intruder,particularly if it is cornered.Donkeys are likely not actingdirectly to protect the sheep asmuch as acting out theiraggression to the intruder. Inaddition to direct aggression,the mere presence of a largeanimal, such as a donkey, withsheep may be sufficient to causesome coyotes or dogs to avoidthe area.There is little informationavailable on donkeys'effectiveness against otherpredators such as bear (Ursusspp.), cougar (Felis concolor),bobcat (Lynx rufus), or birds ofprey. One producer who hasworked with many donkeysreported that they are afraid ofbears and cougars and "will fleein terror whenever these animalsare anywhere in the area" (J.Conter, pers. commun.).Several trials with donkeysand pastured sheep wereconducted in Texas under ratheradverse conditions (M. Shelton,pers. commun.). Donkeys wereintroduced into pastures inareas where coyote density wasgreat and where coyotes hadpreviously established a patternof killing sheep. In theseinstances, donkeys had littleeffect, and predation continued.Donkeys apparently are mosteffective in smaller openpastures or where the sheep arecohesive and graze together.The maximum number of sheep thatcan be guarded by one donkey isunknown but is probably notusually more than 200-300.Several producers have reportedsuccess with up to 600 head ofsheep (J. Conter, pers.commun.). Donkeys wouldprobably be of limited valuewith herded range bands of sheepor in large pastures where sheepwere widely scattered.It seems to be important tointroduce the donkey with theflock prior to the onset ofpredation. Donkeys that areeffective associate with thesheep continuously, and somedonkeys may be an asset inmoving sheep, acting like a leadwether. Conversely, others mayhinder the moving of sheep.Donkeys work equally well witheither sheep or goats, but it isnot clear to what extent theycan be used in pastures withmixed species of livestock.Donkeys are currently in useon several hundred ranches inTexas (M. Shelton, pers.commun.) and in lesser numbersthroughout the United States.More than 100 farmers inVirginia are using donkeys forpredation control (Sc Umberger,pers. commun.). One donkeybreeder in Montana sold 39donkeys over the past severalyears to sheep producers withinthat .state for use as flockguardians. Two of those animals85were not successful (J. Conter,pers. commun.).Although donkeys aren'tsuited to as wide a variety ofguarding situations as livestockguarding dogs, in some respectsthey may be easier to managethan guarding dogs. Theyusually require no specialfeeds, and they are relativelylong-lived (20 years or more).Donkeys need some maintenanceincluding hoof trimming andperhaps floating their teeth.Standard vaccinations andworming may be recommended butare not usually practiced. Whenkept in sound condition, donkeysare quite agile and capable ofchasing predators.Just as guarding dogs havedifferent temperaments, donkeysdo also. Some are not suited tothe guarding role, and their usefor this task is relativelyrecent in the U. S. livestockindustry. There are no dataconcerning the percentage ofdonkeys that become successfulprotectors. The paper by Waltonand Feild (1989) in theseproceedings is probably thelargest effort to date toquantify some aspects of usingdonkeys for reducing predation.The results indicate that thismethod has merit and will likelyincrease in use in the future.As with other methods ofpredation control, it is wise toview the use of donkeys as butanother tool to minimize loss.There is no substitute for goodlivestock management and for asound program of predatormanagement that includes avariety of techniques that areeffective, biologically sound,and economically practical.LITERATURE CITEDEVANS, J. W., A. BORTON, H. F.HINTZ, AND L. D. VANLECK. 1977.The horse. W. H. Freeman andCo., New York. 766pp.FALL, M. W. 1984. Controlmethods for the future. Pages27-32 in Proc. 1984 Agric. Conf.Days. Oregon State Univ.,Corvallis.GREEN, J. S., editor. 1987.Protecting livestock fromcoyotes. A synopsis of theresearch of the AgriculturalResearch Service. Natl. Tech.Inf. Serv. PB 88 133590/AS.105pp.GREEN, J. S., AND R. A.WOODRUFF. 1988. Breedcomparisons and characteristicsof use of livestock guardingdogs. J. Range Manage. 41:249-251.HULET, C. V., D. M. ANDERSON, N.N. SMITH, AND W. L. SHUPE.1987. Bonding of sheep tocattle as an effective techniquefor predator control. Appl.Anim. Behav. Sci. 19:19-25.U. S. FOREST SERVICE, AND BUREAUOF LAND MANAGEMENT. 1989. 7threport to Congress 1988.Administration of the wild free-roaming horse and burro act. U.S. Gov. Printing Off. 32pp.WALTON, M. T., AND C. A. FEILD.1989. Use of donkeys to guardsheep and goats in Texas. Proc.fourth East. Wildl. DamageControl Conf.86

DONKEYS FOR PREDATION CONTROL

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
4 - Fourth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control 
Conference (1989) Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conferences 
September 1989 
DONKEYS FOR PREDATION CONTROL 
Jeffrey S. Green 
USDA, APHIS, Animal Damage Control 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ewdcc4 
 Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons 
Green, Jeffrey S., "DONKEYS FOR PREDATION CONTROL" (1989). 4 - Fourth Eastern Wildlife Damage 
Control Conference (1989). 19. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ewdcc4/19 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conferences at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in 4 - Fourth Eastern Wildlife 
Damage Control Conference (1989) by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - 
Lincoln. 
DONKEYS FOR PREDATION CONTROL
Jeffrey S. Green1
ABSTRACT
Donkeys f Equus assinus) are
described and their availability
discussed. Key points which
appear important in successfully
using a donkey for reducing
predation on livestock are
presented.
INTRODUCTION
One result of changing public
attitudes towards wildlife and
the environment in the 1960's
was the 1972 ban on using
toxicants in Federal predation
control programs. Although
there are now several exceptions
to this ban, public sentiment
continues to favor using and
finding more innocuous
techniques for reducing predator
damage to livestock. Federal
agencies have responded by
conducting research to improve
the effectiveness, selectivity,
and humaneness of existing
control tools and searching for
new methods (Fall 1984, Green
1987).
One idea that has been
researched in recent years is
using various types of animals
to protect livestock from
predators. Results from studies
showing success with guarding
dogs (Green and Woodruff 1988)
and cattle (Hulet et al. 1987)
have been published in the
scientific literature.
Anecdotal accounts of several
other livestock guarding
species, most notably llamas
(Lajna. glama) and donkeys (asses,
Equus assinus), have appeared in
the popular literature.
Although no formal research
Hfildlife biologist, livestock
guarding dog specialist, USDA,
APHIS, Animal Damage Control,
Dubois, ID 83423.
has been reported for these two
species, interest in their use
is increasing.
This paper presents
information on using donkeys for
predation control, focusing on
apparent key concepts identified
by livestock specialists and
producers.
I thank J. Conter, T. Gooch,
D. Heinze, F. R. Henderson, M.
Shelton, H. Sherrets, S.
Umberger, and M. Walton for
information used in this report.
M. Shelton, S. Umberger, and M.
Walton reviewed the manuscript.
DISCUSSION
Description
Donkeys are small asses, and
like their close relatives,
horses (£. caballus), they come
in all sizes (mammoth, standard,
and miniature) and colors. The
standard size is used most
commonly for predation control.
The name "donkey," is derived
from the English word "dun,"
which describes the usual color
(Evans et al. 1977). Males are
known as "jacks," females as
"jennets11 or "Jennys."
Burros are the small so-
called native asses of North
America, having been brought
here by early Spanish
expeditions. They are a blend
of many breeds originating in
Europe and the Middle East. The
Spanish translation of "donkey"
is "burro." Thus the terms
donkey and burro are synonymous
(Evans et al. 1977), and the
names are used interchangeably.
Donkey will be the term of
choice in this report.
Availability
Donkeys can be obtained at
stockyard auctions throughout
the United States, but they are
83
not abundant. Some registered
stock may be expensive, but most
animals sell for one hundred to
a few hundred dollars. One
farmer in Kansas rents guarding
donkeys to sheep producers for
$100 a year (F. R. Henderson,
pers. commun.). Many donkeys in
use today come directly or
indirectly from wild (feral)
stock.
Federal adoption program —
Feral donkeys have been under
protective federal government
control and management since the
Wild Free-Roaming Horse and
Burro Act was passed in 1971.
The Bureau of Land Management
and U. S. Forest Service
administer the program and are
responsible for managing the
animals at appropriate
populations levels.
Feral donkeys are found
primarily in Arizona, Nevada,
and California with far lesser
numbers in Oregon and Utah. In
1988 the population estimate for
feral donkeys was 5,464, and the
estimated appropriate management
level was set at 3,477 (U. S.
Forest Service and Bureau of
Land Management 1989).
Achieving the desireable
management level requires
rounding-up and disposing of
excess aniiials. In fiscal years
1986 and 1987, 1,283 and 1,291
donkeys, respectively, were
removed from federal lands.
Several more years of harvest
will be required to reach the
target management level, and
periodic removal will likely be
required to maintain the desired
number of animals. Thus feral
stock will be available for the
foreseeable future.
Healthy donkeys are offered
for adoption at a fee of $75
each, and »ost are adopted.
Since 1972 when the program
began, 13,229 donkeys have been
adopted by people from 48 states
with California and Texas taking
the majority (U. S. Forest
Service and Bureau of Land
Management 1989). Most donkeys
are adopted to become pets,
breeding stock, or livestock
guardians.
BLM data from the South
Dakota Resource Area indicate an
increase in the number of
donkeys adopted for use in
predation control since 1988
(1988, 62% of 50 donkeys; 1989,
73% of 113 donkeys; 1990, 79% of
114 donkeys [1990 data based on
applications received as of
August 1989], D. Heinze, pers.
commun.).
Management
There are several key points
to consider when using a donkey
for predation control.
1. Use only a jenny or a
gelded jack. Intact
jacks are too aggressive
and may injure livestock.
Some jennys may also
injure livestock.
2. Use only one donkey per
group of sheep. The
exception may be a jenny
with a foal. When 2 or
more adult donkeys are
together or with a horse,
they usually stay
together, not necessarily
near the sheep. Also
avoid using donkeys in
adjacent pastures since
they may fraternize
across the fence and
ignore the sheep.
3. Allow about 4-6 weeks
for a naive donkey to
bond to the sheep.
Stronger bonding may
occur when a very young
donkey is raised from
birth with sheep.
4. Avoid feeds containing
anabolic agents like
monensin (Rumensin) and
lasolacid (Bovatec) as
these are poisonous to
donkeys. Donkeys also
84
may founder if they eat
a lot of prepared sheep
feed.
5. Remove the donkey during
lambing, particularly
if lambing in
confinement, as a
precaution against
accidental or intentional
injuries to lambs or
disruption of the lamb-
ewe bond.
Fences in good repair are a
requirement where donkeys are
used as they will find holes and
escape wherever they are able.
Although donkeys are
reportedly generally docile to
people, they seem to have an
inherent dislike for dogs fCanis
familiaris) and presumably other
canids including coyotes (£.
latrans) and foxes (Vulpes
vulpes^. The typical response
of a donkey to an intruding
canid is vocalization (braying),
baring its teeth, and a running
attack punctuated with attempts
to kick and bite the intruder,
particularly if it is cornered.
Donkeys are likely not acting
directly to protect the sheep as
much as acting out their
aggression to the intruder. In
addition to direct aggression,
the mere presence of a large
animal, such as a donkey, with
sheep may be sufficient to cause
some coyotes or dogs to avoid
the area.
There is little information
available on donkeys'
effectiveness against other
predators such as bear (Ursus
spp.), cougar (Felis concolor),
bobcat (Lynx rufus), or birds of
prey. One producer who has
worked with many donkeys
reported that they are afraid of
bears and cougars and "will flee
in terror whenever these animals
are anywhere in the area" (J.
Conter, pers. commun.).
Several trials with donkeys
and pastured sheep were
conducted in Texas under rather
adverse conditions (M. Shelton,
pers. commun.). Donkeys were
introduced into pastures in
areas where coyote density was
great and where coyotes had
previously established a pattern
of killing sheep. In these
instances, donkeys had little
effect, and predation continued.
Donkeys apparently are most
effective in smaller open
pastures or where the sheep are
cohesive and graze together.
The maximum number of sheep that
can be guarded by one donkey is
unknown but is probably not
usually more than 200-300.
Several producers have reported
success with up to 600 head of
sheep (J. Conter, pers.
commun.). Donkeys would
probably be of limited value
with herded range bands of sheep
or in large pastures where sheep
were widely scattered.
It seems to be important to
introduce the donkey with the
flock prior to the onset of
predation. Donkeys that are
effective associate with the
sheep continuously, and some
donkeys may be an asset in
moving sheep, acting like a lead
wether. Conversely, others may
hinder the moving of sheep.
Donkeys work equally well with
either sheep or goats, but it is
not clear to what extent they
can be used in pastures with
mixed species of livestock.
Donkeys are currently in use
on several hundred ranches in
Texas (M. Shelton, pers.
commun.) and in lesser numbers
throughout the United States.
More than 100 farmers in
Virginia are using donkeys for
predation control (Sc Umberger,
pers. commun.). One donkey
breeder in Montana sold 39
donkeys over the past several
years to sheep producers within
that .state for use as flock
guardians. Two of those animals
85
were not successful (J. Conter,
pers. commun.).
Although donkeys aren't
suited to as wide a variety of
guarding situations as livestock
guarding dogs, in some respects
they may be easier to manage
than guarding dogs. They
usually require no special
feeds, and they are relatively
long-lived (20 years or more).
Donkeys need some maintenance
including hoof trimming and
perhaps floating their teeth.
Standard vaccinations and
worming may be recommended but
are not usually practiced. When
kept in sound condition, donkeys
are quite agile and capable of
chasing predators.
Just as guarding dogs have
different temperaments, donkeys
do also. Some are not suited to
the guarding role, and their use
for this task is relatively
recent in the U. S. livestock
industry. There are no data
concerning the percentage of
donkeys that become successful
protectors. The paper by Walton
and Feild (1989) in these
proceedings is probably the
largest effort to date to
quantify some aspects of using
donkeys for reducing predation.
The results indicate that this
method has merit and will likely
increase in use in the future.
As with other methods of
predation control, it is wise to
view the use of donkeys as but
another tool to minimize loss.
There is no substitute for good
livestock management and for a
sound program of predator
management that includes a
variety of techniques that are
effective, biologically sound,
and economically practical.
LITERATURE CITED
EVANS, J. W., A. BORTON, H. F.
HINTZ, AND L. D. VANLECK. 1977.
The horse. W. H. Freeman and
Co., New York. 766pp.
FALL, M. W. 1984. Control
methods for the future. Pages
27-32 in Proc. 1984 Agric. Conf.
Days. Oregon State Univ.,
Corvallis.
GREEN, J. S., editor. 1987.
Protecting livestock from
coyotes. A synopsis of the
research of the Agricultural
Research Service. Natl. Tech.
Inf. Serv. PB 88 133590/AS.
105pp.
GREEN, J. S., AND R. A.
WOODRUFF. 1988. Breed
comparisons and characteristics
of use of livestock guarding
dogs. J. Range Manage. 41:249-
251.
HULET, C. V., D. M. ANDERSON, N.
N. SMITH, AND W. L. SHUPE.
1987. Bonding of sheep to
cattle as an effective technique
for predator control. Appl.
Anim. Behav. Sci. 19:19-25.
U. S. FOREST SERVICE, AND BUREAU
OF LAND MANAGEMENT. 1989. 7th
report to Congress 1988.
Administration of the wild free-
roaming horse and burro act. U.
S. Gov. Printing Off. 32pp.
WALTON, M. T., AND C. A. FEILD.
1989. Use of donkeys to guard
sheep and goats in Texas. Proc.
fourth East. Wildl. Damage
Control Conf.
86


DigitalCommons@USU

DONKEYS FOR PREDATION CONTROL Jeffreys. Green 1 ABSTRACT Donkeys (Eguus assinus) are described and their availability discussed. Key points which appear important in successfully using a donkey for reducing predation on livestock are presented. INTRODUCTION One result of changing public attitudes towards wildlife and the environment in the 1960's was the 1972 ban on using toxicants in Federal predation control programs. Although there are now several exceptions to this ban, public sentiment continues to favor using and finding more innocuous techniques for reducing predator damage to livestock. Federal agencies have responded by conducting research to improve the effectiveness, selectivity , and humaneness of existing control tools and searching for new methods (Fall 1984, Green 1987). One idea that has been researched in recent years is using various types of animals to protect livestock from predators. Results from studies showing success with guarding dogs (Green and Woodruff 1988) and cattle (Hulet et al. 1987) have been published in the scientific literature. Anecdotal accounts of several other livestock guarding species, most notably llamas (L.fil:!l.a. glama) and donkeys (asses, Eguus assinus), have appeared in the popular literature. Although no formal research 1Wildlife biologist, livestock guarding dog specialist, USDA, APHIS, Animal Damage Control, Dubois, ID 83423. 83 has been reported for these two species, interest in their use is increasing. This paper presents information on using donkeys for predation control, focusing on apparent key concepts identified by livestock specialists and producers. I thank J. Center, T. Gooch, D. Heinze, F. R. Henderson, M. Shelton, H. Sherrets, s. Umberger, and M. Walton for information used in this report. M. Shelton, s. Umberger, and M. Walton reviewed the manuscript. DISCUSSION Description Donkeys are small asses, and like their close relatives, horses (E. caballus), they come in all sizes (mammoth, standard, and miniature) and colors. The standard size is used most commonly for predation control. The name "donkey , " is derived from the English word "dun," which describes the usual color (Evans et al. 1977). Males are known as "jacks," females as "jennets" or "jennys." Burros are the small so-called native asses of North America, having been brought here by early Spanish expeditions. They are a blend of many breeds originating in Europe and the Middle East. The Spanish translation of "donkey" is "burro." Thus the terms donkey and burro are synonymous (Evans et al. 1977), and the names are used interchangeably. Donkey will be the term of choice in this report. Availability Donkeys can be obtained at stockyard auctions throughout the United States, but they are not abundant. Some registered stock may be expensive, but most animals sell for one hundred to a few hundred dollars. One farmer in Kansas rents guarding donkeys to sheep producers for $100 a year (F. R. Henderson, pers. commun.). Many donkeys in use today come directly or indirectly from wild (feral) stock. Federal adoption program --Feral donkeys have been under protective federal government control and management since the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act was passed in 1971. The Bureau of Land Management and u. s. Forest Service administer the program and are responsible for managing the animals at appropriate populations levels. Feral donkeys are found primarily in Arizona, Nevada, and California with far lesser numbers in Oregon and Utah. In 1988 the population estimate for feral donkeys was 5,464, and the estimated appropriate management level was set at 3,477 (U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management 1989). Achieving the desireable management level requires rounding-up and disposing of excess aninals. In fiscal years 1986 and 1987, 1,283 and 1,291 donkeys, respectively, were removed from federal lands. Several more years of harvest will be required to reach the target management level, and periodic removal will likely be required to maintain the desired number of animals. Thus feral stock will be available for the foreseeable future. Healthy donkeys are offered for adoption at a fee of $75 each, and •ost are adopted. Since 1972 when the program began, 13,229 donkeys have been adopted by people from 48 states with California and Texas taking 84 the majority (U. s. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management 1989). Most donkeys are adopted to become pets, breeding stock, or livestock guardians. BLM data from the South Dakota Resource Area indicate an increase in the number of donkeys adopted for use in predation control since 1988 (1988, 62% of 50 donkeys; 1989, 73% of 113 donkeys; 1990, 79% of 114 donkeys (1990 data based on applications received as of August 1989], D. Heinze, pers. commun.). Management There are several key points to consider when using a donkey for predation control. 1. Use only a jenny or a gelded jack. Intact jacks are too aggressive and may injure livestock. Some jennys may also injure livestock. 2. Use only one donkey per group of sheep. The exception may be a jenny with a foal. When 2 or more adult donkeys are together or with a horse, they usually stay together, not necessarily near the sheep. Also avoid using donkeys in adjacent pastures since they may fraternize across the fence and ignore the sheep. 3. Allow about 4-6 weeks for a naive donkey to bond to the sheep. Stronger bonding may occur when a very young donkey is raised from birth with sheep. 4. Avoid feeds containing anabolic agents like monensin (Rumensin) and lasolacid (Bovatec) as these are poisonous to donkeys. Donkeys also may founder if they eat a lot of prepared sheep feed. 5. Remove the donkey during lambing, particularly if lambing in confinement, as a precaution against accidental or intentional injuries to lambs or disruption of the lamb-ewe bond. Fences in good repair are a requirement where donkeys are used as they will find holes and escape wherever they are able. Although donkeys are reportedly generally docile to people, they seem to have an inherent dislike for dogs (Canis familiaris) and presumably other canids including coyotes(~. latrans) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). The typical response of a donkey to an intruding canid is vocalization (braying), baring its teeth, and a running attack punctuated with attempts to kick and bite the intruder, particularly if it is cornered. Donkeys are likely not acting directly to protect the sheep as much as acting out their aggression to the intruder. In addition to direct aggression, the mere presence of a large animal, such as a donkey, with sheep may be sufficient to cause some coyotes or dogs to avoid the area. There is little information available on donkeys' effectiveness against other predators such as bear (Ursus spp.), cougar (Felis concolor), bobcat (LYnx rufus), or birds of prey. One producer who has worked with many donkeys reported that they are afraid of bears and cougars and "will flee in terror whenever these animals are anywhere in the area" (J. Conter, pers. commun.). Several trials with donkeys and pastured sheep were conducted in Texas under rather adverse conditions (M. Shelton, pers. commun.). Donkeys were introduced into pastures in areas where coyote density was great and where coyotes had previously established a pattern of killing sheep. In these instances, donkeys had little effect, and predation continued. Donkeys apparently are most effective in smaller open pastures or where the sheep are cohesive and graze together. The maximum number of sheep that can be guarded by one donkey is unknown but is probably not usually more than 200-300. Several producers have reported success with up to 600 head of sheep (J. Conter, pers. commun.). Donkeys would probably be of limited value with herded range bands of sheep or in large pastures where sheep were widely scattered. It seems to be important to introduce the donkey with the flock prior to the onset of predation. Donkeys that are effective associate with the sheep continuously, and some donkeys may be an asset in moving sheep, acting like a lead wether. Conversely, others may hinder the mo~ing of sheep. Donkeys work equally well with either sheep or goats, but it is not clear to what extent they can be used in pastures with mixed species of livestock. Donkeys are currently in use on several hundred ranches in Texas {M. Shelton, pers. commun.) and in lesser numbers throughout the United States. More than 100 farmers in Virginia are using donkeys for predation control (S. Umberger, pers. commun.). One donkey breeder in Montana sold 39 donkeys over the past several years to sheep producers within that .state for use as flock guardians. Two of those animals 85 were not successful (J. Conter, pers. commun.). Although donkeys aren't suited to as wide a variety of guarding situations as livestock guarding dogs, in some respects they may be easier to manage than guarding dogs. They usually require no special feeds, and they are relatively long-lived (20 years or more). Donkeys need some maintenance including hoof trimming and perhaps floating their teeth. Standard vaccinations and worming may be recommended but are not usually practiced. When kept in sound condition, donkeys are quite agile and capable of chasing predators. Just as guarding dogs have different temperaments, donkeys do also. Some are not suited to the guarding role, and their use for this task is relatively recent in the U. s. livestock industry. There are no data concerning the percentage of donkeys that become successful protectors. The paper by Walton and Feild (1989) in these proceedings is probably the largest effort to date to quantify some aspects of using donkeys for reducing predation. The results indicate that this method has merit and will likely increase in use in the future. As with other methods of predation control, it is wise to view the use of donkeys as but another tool to minimize loss. There is no substitute for good livestock management and for a sound program of predator management that includes a variety of techniques that are effective, biologically sound, and economically practical. LITERATURE CITED EVANS, J. W., A. BORTON, H. F. HINTZ, AND L. D. VANLECK. 1977. The horse. W. H. Freeman and co., New York. 766pp. FALL, M. W. 1984. Control methods for the future. Pages 27-32 in Proc. 1984 Agric. Conf. Days. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis. GREEN, J. S., editor. 1987. Protecting livestock from coyotes. A synopsis of the research of the Agricultural Research Service. Natl. Tech. Inf. Serv. PB 88 133590/AS. 105pp. GREEN, J. S., AND R. A. WOODRUFF. 1988. Breed comparisons and characteristics of use of livestock guarding dogs. J. Range Manage. 41:249-251. HULET, C. V., D. M. ANDERSON, N. N. SMITH, AND W. L. SHUPE. 1987. Bonding of sheep to cattle as an effective technique for predator control. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 19:19-25. U.S. FOREST SERVICE, AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT. 1989. 7th report to Congress 1988. Administration of the wild free-roaming horse and burro act. U. S. Gov. Printing Off. 32pp. WALTON, M. T., AND C. A. FEILD. 1989. Use of donkeys to guard sheep and goats in Texas. Proc. fourth East. Wildl. Damage Control Conf. 86 

Donkeys for Predation Control

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Donkeys for Predation Control

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