Work

Predation impacts of dogs on flocks of sheep in wolf-free areas: A synthesis based on surveys conducted in 11 breeding territories in France

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: As part of collaborative efforts to establish an inventory of canine predation sites across several wolf-free areas in France, the Centre d’Études et de Réalisations Pastorales Alpes Méditerranée (CERPAM), the pastoralism department of Chambre d’agriculture d’Occitanie, and VetAgro Sup conducted a study based on surveys carried out in 11 territories across 12 French départements . These surveys were conducted between 1999 and 2013 over multi-year periods chosen before wolves arrived into the territories with the aim of building a database on sheep flock attacks attributable to dogs of all origins (neighborhood, hunting, tourist, or feral dogs). In total, 298 farming, summer pasture and transhumance units were surveyed, making an average of 24 per territory (minimum 17; maximum 43). The study examines the category of male and female sheep over 4 months old put out to graze. Two indicators were prioritized to analyze the predation pressure exercised on flocks of sheep: the annual attack rate (attack.flock -1 .year -1 )and the predation rate (predated head.head -1 .year -1 ). The annual average dog attack rate is 0.24 (minimum 0.11 and maximum 0.47 per territory), representing an average of one attack per farm every 4 years. On average, every dog attack results in the loss of 6.3 animals (minimum 1.6 and maximum 22.9 per territory). The average predation rate is 0.0032, (minimum 0.0006; maximum 0.0060), representing 1 animal per year for a flock of 330 animals. These attacks primarily occur by day and the dogs are seen in 87% of cases. Sheep density has no significant effect on the predation rate in sheep farming areas with more than 10 sheep/km². The predation rate would nevertheless appear to increase where sheep density is very low or human density is very high.

Source: Small Ruminant Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2026.107779

Authors: G. Brunschwig, A. Pinot, E. Brosse-Genevet, M. Virapin, L. Garde

Institutions: Université Clermont Auvergne, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, VetAgro Sup, Unité Mixte de Recherche sur les Herbivores, University of Padua

Language: English

Topic: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,300