Spatial Ecology of Livestock Protection Dogs, Sheep, and Pampas Foxes in Agroecosystem of Central Argentina

Livestock protection dogs (LPDs) are specifically bred to protect livestock, such as sheep, from predators. These dogs' primary defense mechanisms include directional actions that deter predators but no attack. Little information is available on the influence of LPDs on the spatial ecology of predators. We analyzed interactions between an LPD, sheep, and Pampas foxes (<i>Lycalopex gymnocercus</i>, a main predator of lambs) in a ranch located in central Argentina. Between 2018 and 2021, we deployed GPS collars on an LPD and 2 ewes from a flock of 300 sheep and VHF collars on 12 live-trapped Pampas foxes. The home ranges (HRs) of the LPD and the ewes overlapped largely, especially during the lambing period, with the LPD performing minimal excursions outside the area used by the sheep flock. The LPD appeared to effectively reduce predation on lambs. Foxes exhibited a large HR (average 6.42 km²), with considerable intraspecific overlap. The overlaps between the HRs of the foxes and the LPD were variable (range = 0-98%), but their respective core areas never overlapped, and the minimum distance between the core area centers was 950 m. This study highlights the effectiveness of LPDs at reducing predation while enabling the permanence of carnivorous predators in the ecosystem.