Coyotes Killing Sheep

Problem after Problem 

Dad's Sheep in the Pasture began disappearing at an alarming rate!

We first saw the puncture wounds that I shared in a previous post.  

But then we found carcass that had been stripped clean.  

Often finding the entire skin of the sheep 

as if it had been skinned right off.  

Dad brought in different dogs, thinking that either the dogs were killing the sheep or that they were just not old enough to protect the sheep.  Either way- that set of dogs did not work 

and a change had to happen.  

It took a while to get the guard dog situation worked out and there was a great loss of sheep during the transition time.  

Sometimes there would  be no skin.  Only the bones.  

And for months the guard dogs have been bringing bones up to the gate.  

Daily walks of the perimeter fence were required to find the holes the coyotes had dug.  Once the holes were found, they had to be filled and the fence secured.  

Dad did a lot of teaching, needless to say,   

Master Mess Maker  (M<3) has become quite good at mending fence.  

What's hurting the sheep?

Grandpa had some major difficulties with his sheep this past fall.

As the grass begins to dry out and foraging becomes a little more time consuming for the sheep, it is also a time when there are a lot of predators out trying to find their midnight meal. 

Sheep were coming up missing.  Sheep were returning in the evening and early morning with very deep puncture wounds.  

 Some of the wounds became fatal.

Holes in the fence were being constantly mended.  

As much as we were learning and doing our best to correct the problem we were having a very difficult time getting the upper hand.

Grandpa brought different dogs in to attack the issue, however a couple of the dogs only aided in adding to the problem by eating some of the babies and chasing a few of the ewe's to death.  

This life is not easy.  

We fight the natural instinct of the wild beasts.  

Try as we might to keep them alive. 

Blisters on our hands.

Manure on our boots.

Our bodies ache at the end of the day.

- Laura Carnagie   

A Little Flock of Sheep

After the  - oh so sad day -  of loosing Peter to the coyote, it is nice to have all sheep and dog settled in for a little afternoon rest.
Everyone is getting along nicely and Minnie is beginning to feel like she
belongs in her new home.

Ba-Ba and Lumie Just checking things out...

Ba-Ba and Lumie in their little night pen.

Ba-Ba, Lumie, Lily and new Minnie chillin' in the afternoon.

Meet Minnie

Minnie - The Anatolian

Bailey (top) and Minnie

An Anatolian Dog is large, rugged and powerful.  Anatolians are a superior working dog.  They guard  livestock including, but not limited to: sheep, chickens, cattle etc.  

In the fall we began having a lot of Grandpa's sheep come in to their pen at night with severe injuries.  Many of the injuries were so grave that despite medical care they were dying 

and being eaten by coyotes.  

We were concerned and  Master Mess Maker had been keeping a close eye on her own little sheep.  Unfortunately, little Peter was carried off by a coyote and "not returned".  

Master Mess Maker was devastated!  

Grandma sent Minnie over to the 

ranch to help protect MMM's sheep.  

Minnie is only a young puppy but comes from amazing stock.  It will take work, a lot of patience (and sadly a few chickens) to get Minnie to learn her job. 

Our goal is that Minnie will be as good a guard dog as her parents.

Master Mess Maker, Bailey and Minnie