Olfactory repellents as perceptual traps for mesocarnivores immersed in livestock systems

Abstract

Predation risk is perceived by prey and mesocarnivores through risk signals given by large carnivores. These signals can be manipulated without exposing mesocarnivores to real risk, creating landscapes of fear through perceptual traps, altering behavior. Olfactory signals like urine and feces have been used to deter carnivores that predate on livestock, but a more biologically meaningful cue could be more effective. Livestock guardian dogs (LGD) deter carnivores and reduce predation, so using their whole-body odor as a risk signal in a livestock system could contribute to reduce livestock-carnivore conflict. We tested LGD whole-body odor effect on Patagonian foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus and Lycalopex griseus) present in sheep production in three different habitats—forest, scrubland and pastureland—and analyzed behavioral changes. The presence of LGD whole-body odor reduce the presence of foxes in scrubland habitats and could increase fear behavior and reduced food consumption compared to non-scented places. This technique could act as a complement to LGD, amplifying its effect, but the habitat characteristics must be considered to make it effective. LGD whole-body odor, a more realistic risk signal, representing the presence of LGD without exposing mesocarnivores to a real encounter, i.e. a perceptual trap, could contribute to reduce livestock losses and carnivore threats from livestock owners, aiming to facilitate coexistence between livestock production and native carnivores.