Highland Livestock Guardians:

Helping Farming and Wildlife.

 

Our project is exploring how Maremma Sheepdogs could be used as one of many tools to reduce conflict between livestock farming and wildlife in the Highlands.

The Highlands are home to many predators and scavengers, including foxes, ravens, badgers and eagles. Eagles are sometimes blamed for lamb losses, even though it can be difficult to establish whether an eagle killed a lamb or arrived after it had already died.

We are interested in a practical solution. Livestock guardian dogs live alongside the farm animals they protect, using their presence to discourage predators and scavengers from approaching. If the dogs can help to keep predatory wildlife away from lambs and lamb carcasses, they could help protect livestock while also reducing the likelihood of eagles being blamed for deaths they may or may not have caused.

Livestock guardian dogs are widely used in other countries, where they have worked alongside farmers for generations. They are not commonly used in the UK, partly because our farming practices have developed differently. We believe they deserve serious consideration as another practical tool available to farmers.

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At present, our dogs are working as education ambassadors. They help us introduce people to the role of livestock guardian dogs and encourage conversations about farming, conservation and coexistence. We encourage farmers interested in learning more about Livestock Guardian Dogs to get in touch, we can arrange visits to see the dogs at our centre and also have information packs we can send to you to learn more about the dogs care, training and effective use.

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Our long-term vision is to see guardian dogs working on farms in the Highlands and beyond. We hope they can support farmers, protect livestock and help create a future in which rural communities and wildlife can thrive alongside one another.

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If you have a question about our project please get in touch at falconry@rothie.net