Alpacas sent an early warning siren to guard dogs about a group of coyote stalkers in a California farm. The incident was caught on video which revealed an unusual partnership between the canines and the long-neck camelid mammals.
Alpacas Warning Dogs Video
TikTok account Raventree Ranch uploaded the video showing the alpacas at the farm created high-pitched sound which alarmed three guard dogs named Bo, Judge, and Lily. The trio then barked several times to prevent what seems to be a lurking coyote threat.
@raventreeranch The alpacas only danger alert when they see coyotes or loose strange dogs. #livestockguardiandog #anatolianshepherddog #farm #anadoluçobanköpeÄŸi #farm #alpacas #coyotes ♬ original sound - Raventree Ranch
Samantha Draper from the Raventree Ranch told Newsweek that their alpacas typically makes a high-pitched danger alert sound when they see a coyote, which is common in the area. Draper adds the alpacas can differentiate their dogs and local coyotes from outsiders.
Also Read: Why Biosecurity is important for every Farm
What is a Coyote?
The coyote (Canis latrans) is often depicted in the tales and traditions of Native Americans, mostly as a "very savvy" and "clever beast," according to the National Geographic. In contemporary times, modern coyotes have exhibited their cleverness and adaptiveness to the changing American landscape. Smaller than wolves, coyotes are members of the dog family that once lived in open prairies and deserts.
Now, C. latrans roam the continent's forest lands and mountains and have even colonized human-populated areas like the city of Los Angeles, making their presence across North America. Nat Geo adds that coyote populations are likely thriving across the continent, including in multiple regions and terrestrial habitats.
In spite their increasing population, coyotes often find themselves hunting other animals in rural farmlands and even other human settlements where their prey is present, a result of being omnivores. Coyotes can live in the wild for up to 14 years, grow up to 32 to 37 inches (excluding the tail), and weigh from 20 to 50 pounds.
Coyote Attacks Incidents
Various sources say coyotes will eat almost anything under their opportunistic diet, which includes rabbits, fish, frogs, deer, and rodents, as well as insects, snakes, fruits, grass, and carrion. However, these ferocious animals are known for sometimes killing calves, lambs, and other livestock. They also had a track record of killing pets. With this, many farmers and ranchers consider them as destructive pests.
In addition to animals, there are also reported incidents of coyote attacks on humans in previous years. In 2009, a fatal animal attack involving a pack of coyotes led to the death of a human adult in North America. Taylor Mitchell, 19, was hiking at the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Canada when the pack attacked her, who was the first documented human adult who died from a coyote attack, according to CNET.
In 1981, a coyote killed 3-year-old Kelly Keene on her family's property in Los Angeles, which raised questions at that time regarding the security on co-existing with the furry mammals.
The main reason for coyote attacks on human remain unclear other than their wild nature and conflict with human territorial encroachment. In November 2022, a study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology by wildlife researchers suggests that Mitchell's death in 2009 was a result of coyotes undergoing unusual dietary change at that time.
Th researchers emphasized that instead of relying on smaller mammals like rodents, reptiles like snakes, and birds for food, the coyotes appeared to include moose on their meals due to extreme climate conditions. This factor forced the animals to move away from their natural habitats.
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