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A feral dog is one which is wild or untamed. Similar to feral cats, with which more people are familiar, these dogs (Canis familiaris) roam free and breed in the wild. However, their wildness may be intertwined with residential areas. Their damage may be as simple as knocked down trash cans in the night, or as vicious as killing livestock while the farmer sleeps. Both are a problem.
That there are limited studies on feral dogs makes it difficult to draw a distinct line between stray dogs and actual feral dogs. Some questions may be asked, such as how long does it take for domestic dogs to become feral? or can a domestic puppy become feral without human contact in the early stages of life? or how long does it take for a stray/abandoned individual to become "wild?"
Distinguishing between feral dogs and coyotes that are now moving into residential and urban areas increases the canine problem.
Management is often difficult because of people's love of this mammal. As one person may see a feral dog as a nuisance to society, another may see it as a misguided animal in need of a good home. A very important problem is that some people have never seen a feral dog, or have never been afected by a feral dog or dogs. Many of those people would most likely be apathetic in the management of the populations. Do the wild dogs have rights, or should they be treated as a nuisance mammal and be exterminated?
Feral dog populations must be managed, because of the possible threat to humans and surrounding wildlife. These animals are more prone to rabies and other such diseases than other wild creatures. Many people may not see them as a wild animal, such as a skunk or raccoon, making field situations dangerous. Another problem is the possibility of the mating with wild foxes, coyotes, or wolves and disrupting the region's gene pool. Small birds and mammals are common prey for the feral dog, although often overlooked, and these losses are another part of the problem.
Dogs both domestic and wild in human watersheds, can introduce or add to the water-borne protozoan disease called giardiasis.
In order to stop the problem, management objectives must be set. The question of whether or not complete elimination is the main goal has to be addressed. If the objective is to eliminate the population, then how will the public react? Depending on the setting, elimination methods will differ. They may vary from trap/euthanize in a urban area, to shoot to kill in a more rural area. Strategies may be to trap and attempt to domesticate, or trap and spay/neuter. Trapping may be executed by live box traps, leg holds, or snares. However, elimination seems to be the most cost effective and powerful tool. Records should be kept on animals handled and removed to understand better the population dynamics. Natality, mortality, sex ratios, and population densities should be estimated to determine how severe the problem is.
Trapping for removal:
Exclusion technique:
Build fencing or barriers around property to protect livestock, poultry, and crops from predation. This also can be done to feeding sites such as garbage dumps upon which feral dogs depend heavily.
Education is needed at all levels. People need to know that a feral dog population is a very serious problem. They need to be informed of the ramifications of not spaying and neutering their pets, and how and where they can have the procedures done. They also need to realize the serious need for leashes and fences to keep their pets confined to their own property, and to keep them away from free-roaming individuals. They need to know what they can do for unwanted and abused dogs, such as taking them to a dog shelter. They need to know their part in controlling the population.
They need to report feral dogs to the authorities, and not try to feed and comfort "the poor dog that shows up around the back porch every night." By feeding the dogs, they are bringing themselves closer to a possible threat of disease or injury. Healthy, well fed dogs are also more likely to have large litter sizes, thus escalating the problem.
Specific techniques more related to people than to the dog:
Links of possible interest:
CoolDogSites.com
Where the Cool Dog Lovers Hang Out.
Just Us Dogs The complete guide to dogs, with breed information, a breeder guide, a free dog classifieds section and more.
To: Wildlife Society ListFrom: Mark Brennan , 1999
I'm trying to locate some good references to the impact that dogs may have on wildlife. My interest is on the impacts that dogs on recreational trails, both on leash and off, may have with respect to disease transmission, the effects of scent marking (droppings of up to hundreds of individual dogs) on native populations of mammals, and the impact on breeding birds. The literature seems to focus mostly on direct mortality from feral dogs and on harassment to game (ungulate) species. Does anyone know of researchers investigating this topic? I work in a growing urban area with significant open space lands that we manage for wildlife and recreation. My concern is that the large number of dogs on some of these properties may be having a detrimental effects on native species and their populations, but I can't seem to find references to substantiate this. Any information would be appreciated.
Mark Brennan Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department<MEBPA@CO.BOULDER.CO.US>
A contribution of David Mitcham (1992)and Cris Buddie (1996), Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0321
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Last revision December 12, 2006.