The Guardian
Shepherd Program (GSP), is an effective, ecologically sound
program that protects both livestock and wildlife. It was originally designed and presented to the County of West Marin in September of 2000, by request of the Argricultural Commissioner, Stacey Carlson, as an alternative to the Federal USDA
Wildlife Service's lethal control of coyotes and other predators that prey on domestic
livestock or otherwise interfere with livestock
operations. The four components of the program are:
- Exclusionary
fencing that is properly constructed and maintained to keep out
predators and increase the efficacy of guard animals e.g. llamas,
donkeys and guard dogs.
- Shepherds
imported from Mongolia or Peru would be specially trained by
LBS to protect the flocks, using the most
current visual and auditory detterents. Use of shepherds are
optional. However, without the shepherds, the rancher would have to be more vigilant in tending to his flocks.
- Community outreach to teach the ranchers damage
prevention, using the most current methods for discouraging
predatory wildlife, and improving animal husbandry
techniques.
- Development
of a Strategic Marketing Plan to increase revenue.
The Guardian Shepherd Program was included in
the Agricultural Commissioner, Stacey Carlsen's "Five-Year Plan To Protect Wildlife and
Livestock," as a model
non-lethal program and an option for the ranchers to
pursue.
On
October 31st, 2000, Little Blue Society presented the Guardian
Shepherd Program to the Marin Board of Supervisors. The GSP
showed that non-lethal control is ecologically sound and more
effective in reducing sheep losses to predators. Supervisor
Kress stated "Little Blue Society's hollistic approach to livestock
protection is commendable and exemplary."
The GSP was also instrumental in influencing the
Supervisors' vote to sunset the Federal USDA Wildlife Services
predator management contract.
On
January 30th, 2001, Little Blue Society was invited by Mr. Carlsen
to attend a meeting at the Tomales Town Hall with the Marin
County sheep ranchers concerning coyote control and predator
management. Another meeting was hosted in February by a
long-time sheep ranching family for the Marin ranchers to learn
more about the Guardian Shepherd Program.
In March of 2001, The North Bay Woolgrowers Association
invited Little Blue Society to give a presentation of the
GSP and to talk about the various components of our Program e.g.
Better fencing, visual and auditory deterrents, more effective
animal husbandry techniques, increasing revenue, and the option to
import shepherds from Mongolia or Peru, at the Spring Field Day
Meeting. (See Letter and Agenda)
Although the shepherds were not used in
Marin, in the following months, Little Blue
Society consulted for a number of ranchers on the other
components of the GSP program.
Little
Blue Society played a vital role in West Marin to make the
transition from lethal wildlife control to non-lethal
methodologies that much more palatable for the ranchers, and
acceptable to the Board of Supervisors.
The Guardian Shepherd Program is
designed to raise ecological awareness and to preserve wildlife,
while building a self-sufficient, ecologically sustainable sheep
ranching community. We also design programs for cattle ranching communities.
See
Related Article in the Marin Independent Journal, November 13,
2005
If you would like a program designed for your specific needs:
Contact mary@littlebluesociety.org or call usToll Free at (866) 702-9290
I want to see this program taken into other ranching communities currently using lethal predator control. I support your efforts.
