Factors relevant to the objective scrutiny of goat losses or damage will be presented here for several of the common predators. More detailed information about the life history of each can be found in The Mammals of Texas, by Schmidly, and Predator Control as a Tool in Wildlife Management, by Rollins, et al. (See the Reference Material section)

Coyotes

Typically, and there are some exceptions as with all predators, a coyote will kill goats by attacking the throat region, biting and collapsing the trachea (windpipe). Death occurs by suffocation, sometimes after a rather prolonged struggle leaving considerable hemorrhage beneath the skin. Coyotes will at times bite the side of the head or even the back of the head. A young, inexperienced coyote may bite wherever it can catch the animal. Eventually, with maturity, the throat attack seems to be the mode most often adopted.

Coyote tracks (Figures 8 and 9) are rather slender and elongated. Particularly distinguishing characteristics include visible nail marks (often the middle two toes only) and bi-lobed heal pad. Their travel is usually deliberate, resulting in a straight path with hind feet often falling in the track of the front feet.

Scats (Figures 9 and 10) are usually cylindrical and cigar-shaped with minor strictures apparent and blunt or pointed ends. The texture varies according to the current diet, whether primarily vegetation (seeds from fruits) or animal (hair and bone).

An integrated approach using a variety of control measures is most effective. Non-lethal means include net-wire fencing and guard animals. Also consider trapping (No. 4 with chain and drag hook), snaring, aerial hunting, calling, M-44s, or LPCs. Be careful to avoid “educating” coyotes with unsuccessful attempts at trapping, snaring, or calling, especially. Coyotes are intelligent animals that become more wary of management attempts with each failure-often to the point of being almost impossible to catch. Make your first “shot” count.

Figure 8. Coyote track.

Figure 9. Coyote scat and tracks (at arrows).

Figure 10. Coyote scat.

Bobcats

Bobcats, with few exceptions, attack goats by biting the back of the neck at the base of the skull or on the side of the head. Or they may bite the back of the jaw and lower part of the skull, while restraining by embedding their claws in the goat’s side or flank. Death is usually caused by crushing the spine and/or skull. After the kill the carcass may be fed upon immediately or it may be cached-dragged to another location and partially covered with debris-to be fed upon later (Figure 11). If the meat spoils before consumption it may be abandoned for another fresher kill. Often hair will be plucked from the carcass in a few spots giving it a scruffy appearance (Figure 12).

Tracks (Figure 13) are more rounded in appearance than those of a coyote, and are larger. Nail marks are usually not apparent since cats typically keep claws retracted until needed for defense or capture of prey. The heel pad is tri-lobed (Figure 14). On especially soft surfaces the track may appear to be “tented” or “peaked” between the toes owing to the shorter hair between them compared to coyotes.

Bobcat scats (Figure 15) are cylindrical and are segmented with prominent strictures and usually have elongated pointed ends, often with protruding hair on the end last expelled.

Non-lethal methods include electrified offset wires on fences and fence over-hangs, both to deter climbing. Cage traps have been successfully used with a rear, protected compartment containing a live chicken to serve as a visual, audible, and scent lure.

Previously mentioned lethal means are effective for bobcats also.

Figure 11. White-tailed doe killed and cached by bobcat. Note debris partially covering carcass. Photo by W. Klussman.

Figure 12. White-tailed deer killed by bobcat. Note areas which have been plucked of hair and left scruffy in appearance. Photo by W. Klussman.

Figure 13. Bobcat tracks. Typically claw marks are absent.

Figure 14. Front and rear feet of bobcat. Note tri-lobed rear portion of heel pads.

Figure 15. Bobcat scat. Note faint track at arrow.

Mountain Lions

Though rare compared to other predators which threaten goat operations, mountain lions can cause extensive loss. Their diet is mostly deer in many areas, but includes livestock at times. They are known to kill a deer every 3-14 days, depending on how quickly the meat spoils and the number of deer available. Like bobcats they drag and then cache their dead prey, sometimes urinating and defecating on top of the debris that has been kicked upon it. Scrapes created by pushing and kicking debris up on to the carcass will sometimes point to the eventual direction of travel.

Lion tracks and scat are similar to those of a bobcat, but considerably larger.

The most effective and selective means of lion capture is by trained dogs. Foothold traps (No. 4 ½ with chain and drag hook) and foothold snares can be effective, also. Considerable skill is required to minimize non-target captures.

Red Foxes

Red fox in snare.

The red fox is an introduced species which is often confused with the smaller gray fox, and is responsible for goat losses in some locales. The white-tipped tail is a distinguishing characteristic.

Tracks are coyote-like, though smaller, but in contrast all marks from all four claws on each foot are likely to be visible. Scats are generally non-segmented, bearing pointed ends with protruding hair.

Predation is typically characterized by multiple bites on the back of the prey animal. Due to the relatively small size of red foxes, young animals such as kid goats are most at risk to red foxes.

For control consider trapping, snaring, and hunting. Red foxes can often be called up with the use of prey-mimicking audio devices (calls).

Feral Hogs

To date, at least 30 states have reported the presence of feral hogs-hogs which are either domestic hogs gone wild or descendants of free-roaming hogs first brought to North America by early explorers centuries ago. Livestock predation is one of the many negative impacts they have caused. Young animals such as lambs and kid goats are particularly vulnerable.

Often no evidence of predation is found when feral hogs are the culprit because the entire prey animal is consumed. A bloody patch of ground, a hoof or two, or an inverted skin with hooves and maybe the skull attached, is likely to be all that remains. Sometimes the only indication may be circumstantial-missing young, dams with distended udders, and the known presence of feral hogs in the area.

Signs of their presence include: rubs on trees and utility poles (Figure 16), wallows in mud (Figures 16 and 17), and rooted-up soil, rocks, and debris (Figure 18) where they have searched for food items.

Being a cloven-footed animal their tracks (Figure 19) are similar to deer and goats, but with more blunt tips and dew claw marks are often present. Scats (Figure 20) are large and resemble a pile more often than a cylindrical mass, especially when fruits and other plant items are being consumed.

Aerial hunting is the most efficient and effective control means for feral hogs. Also use portable cage traps or funnel traps built on-site with t-posts and welded wire hog panels. With either setup use a one-way gate and pre-bait the trap with the gate open for several days until hogs grow accustomed to entry, then set for capture.

Figure 16. Feral hog wallow and rub on utility pole. Feral hogs seem to have an affinity for creosote.

Figure 17. Feral hog wallow.

Figure 18. Evidence of rooting activity by feral hogs in sandy loam soil.

Figure 19. Feral hog tracks.

Figure 20. Feral hog scat.

Domestic and Feral Dogs

Though “wildlife predators” claim more of the immediate attention when predation of goats is known or suspected, free-roaming domestic dogs, some of which are more accurately described as wild or feral, are serious contenders for the top spot on the list of suspects. Since breeds vary extensively in size and conformation track evidence often resembles wild canines or cats. Typical characteristics of tracks, like coyotes, include bi-lobed rear of heel pads and a more sloppily-placed print, i.e. less deliberate, straight-line travel.

Kills by dogs are often characterized by multiple bites on the hind quarters and flaps of skin pulled away from the animal due to the dog’s attempts to restrain the fleeing. Several animals might be attacked at once by a single dog or a pack of dogs, sometimes with little if any feeding on the carcasses.

Non-lethal measures include guard animals and net wire fencing. Otherwise use foothold traps, cage traps, snares, aerial and ground hunting, and M-44s (only if dogs are known to be killing livestock- Check local laws and regulations).

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