“It has been a terrible year so far for predation and the bears haven’t even started.”
John and Lorraine Buchanan have lost 40 lambs and three ewes to cougar kills so far this year, and the farmers fear the death count could mount as black bear season is just beginning.
“We don’t like to see cougars killed and we don’t like our sheep being taken, either, so it’s sad,” said Lorraine Buchanan.The Buchanans have come to expect some losses of lambs and ewes to cougars, and heading into summer more black bear attacks on sheep, but this year has been especially lethal for their herds.
“The service has dedicated significant resources in response to cougar complaints in the Metchosin area over the last several months,” the agency said in a statement. Parry Bay Sheep Farm is the Island’s largest sheep farm and has 260 ewes that gave birth to 600 lambs this year. “It’s stepping up to be a very poor year and at what point do you reach too many losses and just can’t farm any more?”
Large dog breeds as well as donkeys and llamas have been used as guard animals, but positioning the protectors on so many fields is difficult. Dogs, in particular, are difficult to use because many of the pastures are close to walking paths or busy roadways and “may not be safe for the dogs or people,” said Lorraine Buchanan.
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