I have a herd of 20 horses and I have 4 donkeys that guard the herd, for the last 10 years, from coyotes and cougars. They do the job, because donkeys don’t flee like horses they stand there ground and kick and fight. Love my donkeys !
I live in a valley with 5 other homesteads. I am the only one with a donkey, and I am also the only homestead that doesn't have coyote problems. The one I have is a whole Jack. He's about 6 years old and has calmed down quite a bit. He's very friendly to humans he knows, a bit standoffish to humans he doesn't know, but he has a furious rage for dogs. Dogs of all kinds. He will tolerate my dog, but she also knows that donkeys don't like dogs and she keeps her distance.
And donkeys' are bad asses! They been used to guard heard for thousands of years. They instantly hate wolves and some of our dog have paid the price. This will work but he needs more donkeys than 6.
@@jeffsams4341 - Have heard they can be deadly for dogs, but also that if raised together the donkeys learn to distinguish between predatory canines and helpful ones. Eventually they learn to work together with dogs working outer perimeter and donkeys hanging closer to the herd. Donkeys are more effective in a fight, live longer, and just graze along with the livestock. I love dogs, but donkeys are generally better livestock guardians. One big Pyrenees may be able to fend off a wolf pack,but a donkey can kill more of them faster - thus wolves are less likely to try and actually stay safer.
@@finngamesknudson1457 I suppose you can leave the donkeys with the same food as the horses, while the wolves probably will eat the same food as the dogs. Big win there. And I'm sure you can teach the two to get along, probaly even become friends. When a guy can befriend lions and hyenas, it's only a matter of doing it right, I'm convinced.
Donkeys are a lot more vicious than most people would think and surprisingly powerful, with very little fear. I doubt if they would run from wolves"pack".
Donkeys and mules will kill ANYTHING that is dog like (wolf like) or feline (mountain lions. They are very territorial and HATE preditors and anything that looks dangerous.
The people of America want a healthy environment. And a healthy environment needs apex predators. Farmers have got to figure out how to do what they do WITHIN THAT SYSTEM. Moron.
I'm glad to see and hear that this rancher got 6 donkeys. Just getting 1 or 2 would not be enough to protect his large herd of cattle. I hope they do a good job for him.
@@charlessmith4242 small packs there still, only large ones in Canada and Alaska hence the whole endangered species because of humans killing them because of exactly this
What I like about this rancher is that he is not wild eyed angry, whining and blaming whoever for the presence of the wolves. He is simply talking about solutions.
Then he has been compensated by the government for the wolves eating his lively hood, if not he would set out there with night vision scope picking them off from his pickup
@@charleswettish8701 it’s that magical telepathy some people claim to have…. But it on works on people they have some sort of antipathy towards, never anyone they have sympathy for….
Would you look at that?!! Ranchers and The Bureau of Land Management working together to find a solution that works for everyone involved. That's fantastic!! Donkeys are very smart and protective animals. They get so little credit in the animal world.
@@wildlyunrulyadventures3942 Was raised with a couple from 3 yrs old. We took them backpacking for up to 2 wks in high Sierras. They'd (one really as the other died young, replaced with a pony) HE'd guard camp, stand on a high point to make sure everyone was coming back from fishing at dusk. We'd leave him in a meadow for a day excursion from camp thru rocky talus slopes he couldn't do, come back late, never any problems. Taught them to wade across creeks on their own as we found a log to cross. Also mischievous, we had an aluminum camping pot with big teeth gouges in the lid as he bit into side to access and consume dried apricots we were soaking overnight, emptied the pot. Something was missing from our breakfast. LOL.
@@Mrbfgray we had a donkey and two mules that we had pack into the high Sierra’s also for camping. It’s incredibly beautiful up there and I miss it tremendously. And yes! That little donkey was very mischievous! So much personality. Thanks for sharing.
I saw a wolf while walking on the river trail downtown Winter Park, CO. several years ago. I called the state wild live people and they said I saw a large coyote. I told her I grew up in Alaska and this critter weighed almost 180 lb. . Two years later they were announcing on the news that Colorado had wolves. amazing.
My wife and I were hiking in the central cascade mountains several years ago. We ran into a grizzly bear. When I called fish and feathers the lady told me I saw a color phase black bear. When I told her again she persisted. I knew what she was pushing.
@The Eastern front You can understand where they're coming from. They must get dozens of reports of wolves and grizzlies when both species studiously avoids human contact.
Donkeys are an excellent protection animal. I have seen them scare off lots of animals, including coyotes but I don't know how they will do against wolves. Wolves are tenacious, intelligent and extremely dangerous when hungry. I hope these donkeys are able to protect themselves and the cattle. They are a very under appreciated animal with a lot to offer any farm/ranch. Best of luck. 👍
@@smoke617 I'm not sure myself. But, we do know that wolves kill coyotes, and usually without much difficulty, so wolves may be very different for the donkey.
@@auntiec6294 Yea, they are truly fierce. I really don't know what would happen. We do see wolves taking down much larger prey though. I agree, if a donkey gets isolated there's probably no chance of survival against a pack of wolves. I wonder what would happen if there were several donkey's and a pack of wolves.?.? Wolves are notorious for isolating one animal from the others and then attacking that lone animal. I have faith in the donkey's. Donkey's and chickens are very underrated animals.
We got thousands of wolves in Germany now, they started wandering in from the east when the iron curtain fell. We use livestock guardian dogs, mostly Turkish Kangals and Spanish mastiffs. They are the best, only starving wolves with a death wish would go up against a team of Kangals. But they don't have to cover that much land in Germany and the climate is a lot smoother.
Livestock guardians are plainly the answer here. When they realize that a herd is guarded - they also realize it isn't an easy meal. Hunting is already high risk for a predator. And higher still if you're going to face attack from something that isn't on the menu.
Donkeys can eat what the cattle eat and actually need less. they can kick with front and rear hooves and can actually break a mans arm if biting it. If they bite a wolf by the tail they will thrash it till the tail breaks. They are perfect in this setting
* The wolves in Europe are not as big as the Grey Wolf that have been introduced from Canada into our western states. I'm not convinced that 6 donkeys will be a match for a 10--12 plus size wolf pack. The guard animals are not confronting just one wolf, they are dealing with an organized pack, and donkey meat will taste just as good to a hungry wolf as any cow. Wolves disembowel their prey,and with a bite force twice that of the strongest dog they are very proficient.
Kangals and Spanish mastiffs don't worry about cold or higher elevation. They do a fabulous job with wolves. Poor donkeys are still prey animals and no defence against a pack of wolves, except to die and let the cattle escape.
Yea, we have crazy amounts of coyotes here in our corner of the Mojave. I think there's wolves in the mountains, but they don't come down here. Coyotes are pushovers compared to wolves, I'm sure.
I’ve lived in Colorado for 20 years but previously lived in the South. We have used donkeys for the same reason, but in the South they are used to protect from coyotes…and I can personally testify that donkeys will run down and kill coyotes every chance they have.
Why is ‘running down and killing Coyotes’ ethically better than running down and killing Cattle? I understand the economical reasons, but claiming justification for ethical reasons does not seem to stack up.
@@tutekohe1361 You’re talking ethics? I’ve killed deer, elk, Proghorn, bear, coyotes, hogs, and I’m a combat Veteran (do the math on that). You must be a pussy vegan. Shove your ethics up your ass.
@@tutekohe1361 Who said it's better? I agree, humans should grow beyond the meat industry, but, as it is, this rancher is just trying to survive, no different than any other animal. At least he's not making this political. Also, coyotes and wolves get "run off" much, much more than they get "killed" by animal sentries.
Here in Canada, where coyotes and wolves have always been an issue for ranchers, the use of donkeys to protect cattle is very common. And never think the donkeys are there to be sacrificed, they can cave a wolf's head in with one kick, and the wolves learn pretty quickly not to try them.
How about not forcing into existence billions of cows every year just to massacre them for their flesh? AND LET WILD LIFE BE! STOP KILLING WILD LIFE !! coyotes and wolves have a right to live their lives and they actually need to eat what they can and hunt. WE HUMAN ANIMALS HAVE ZERO NEED FOR FLESH AND SHOULDNT USE UP EARTHS RESOURCES GORCING INTO EXISTENCE 100 BILLION LAND ANIMALS EVERY YEAR AND DESTROYING WILD LIFE
Here in BC Canada we do not have that problem. I have 3 wolf packs around and in 20 years , NO problems. Stay out of the wolf areas and quit killing off all the wild game, get your stock out of crown lands. They were here first, murder for profit is what you want.
Our donkeys protect our goat herd from large packs of coyote down here in south Texas. We've never lost a single animal since we brought them in. The goats graze near them and deer jump our pasture fence to graze in peace. Coyote hate donkeys and it's evident that God called them "asses" for a reason.
@@user-bx7nw1ve6y Very true. The rancher in this story has wisely collected a small herd of donkeys and even in numbers, a pack of determined grey wolves would be a problem.
@@duxdawg Good question--here's a post from below on topic: We have 4 donks and a Spanish mule on 70 acres. Before: coyotes..cougar….wild boar…..rattle snakes…..roving dogs….deer.. Now: Just 4 donks, a Spanish mule….and grateful deer
Donkeys are awesome guards for cattle. They are frequently used in NC amongst dairy cattle to deter coyotes. They are intelligent and strong. I think they will do a good job for this rancher.
We have 4 donks and a Spanish mule on 70 acres. Before: coyotes..cougar….wild boar…..rattle snakes…..roving dogs….deer.. Now: Just 4 donks, a Spanish mule….and grateful deer
A couple of farmers I know use donkeys to protect their cattle from coyotes. Here near the US East Coast, coyotes are not native; they were imported to train fox hounds and escaped the fox pens (surprise, surprise). One farmer claimed his donkeys will kill a coyote that gets too close to the cattle.
Seen a large horseshoe collection from the 1800s, and some had a 3" - 4 " blade protruding from them, I asked about them and the curator said sheep and cattle ranchers put them on mules and donkeys to combat the wolves. This was in CA.
Donkeys are amazing and very protective! I worked on a lil ranch that had a couple. Those donkeys watched the new born calf like a hawk! Infested with coyotes. East of Dallas in Greenville. Coyotes are everywhere. They will prey on newborn calves!
Donkeys are a great addition.... they are hyper-vigilant and loud. They have been effective against bobcats, foxes, and coyotes.... I imagine they will be effective against wolves too. Hopefully the donkeys will stay together. If one strays away, there may be a problem.
@@willgaukler8979 Burros are one of the smartest animals you'll ever come across. They have a reputation for "stubbornness" which is another form of intelligence, they will not willfully follow a person who doesn't know how to handle them or who they don't respect. That too is SMART.
I took 2 Jack Donkeys over to my neighbors to protect his boar goat 🐐 and llamas, and other goat from Coyotes, works like a Charm. Good luck to Rancher, I might've taken 7 Donkeys to that Ranch
Donkey's are actually really good herding animals. they have a strong sense of community with their herd, and will alert them and round them away from danger when they sense it.
My first dairy goat had been put in a pasture with expensive race horses while they recovered from the racing season. It was in the middle of nowhere. When the horses went back to the track and racing they sold the goat. The first time I had the goat on a leash leading her to pasture and my friendly dog approached her ,I got to see my 40 pound dog fly thru n the air off my goats horns. Everytime a dog was visible to this goat she raised up on her back legs and cooked her head watching every move the dog made. She wasn't Playing..
Finally, a reasonable solution. And a good one, donkeys are protective of their companion animals. I hope it manages the losses for both cows and wolves. Big dif between loosing 2 cows and loosing 10. And a big dif between a dead wolf and one licking his wounds and bruises.
This solution has to be as old as the burro/human relationship, thousands of yrs, great companions too with two independently amiable "radars", those big ears are serious early warning instruments. Coming home from school as a kid I would see one of those ears rotate to our direction from WAY up the road just from our footsteps on the pavement.
These donkeys make a crazy sound when predators are around. Braying LOUD enough to scare coyote away. I had a donkey named Carter that protected our small herd in Iowa. Great donkey! But he would nip cows when eating hay in the winter. Didn't like sharing i guess.
In Albania 🇦🇱 we had the same wolf problem so we got the Caucasian Mountain dog or JOZO DOG they’re awesome cool temper and will snap wolf neck like a twig! They can watch Long range territory and withstand cold weather 👍
Had heard that donkeys were very protective and good guardians but, wasn't sure it was true. Good on this farmer for being willing to try solutions that don't involve just killing the wolves. I hope he, his donkeys, his cattle AND the wolves live long and prosper. In areas where wolves have been reintroduced there have been huge unexpected benefits to, the environment, the health of the prey animals also, many other plant, insect and animal species have returned to areas that are now not being over grazed by wildlife.
* And if the wolf population is not managed you'll see a negative effect when the wolf's prey is depleted. There must be a balance kept between the predators and what they consume.
I mentioned donkeys to my neighbor after he told me he lost a calf to yoters in the willows, he laughed at me. We had a few burrows 30 years ago that kept the wolves away from the dairy cattle in Minnesota, I always thought they were called a Ass because they are so ornery. As kids, we were told they can kill us if we get to close, so unless it was a carrot or apple through the fence with adults around, they were off limits.
Ain't it great to have people around to correct you? Some people just live for that I guess. I probably should have used a comma before anybody corrects me
We had them as pets and I interacted with 'em since 4 yrs old, enter the pasture anytime for any reason, never the slightest problem other than maybe an attempt to escape when the gate was open. But wild or less tame donks might be different.
You lose a black angus bull you just lost $60k. BLM is legally liable for the damage the wolves cause so of course BLM would bring in donkeys for him for free.
For anyone thinking WTF, do a quick search of "guard donkeys" and you will see what they can do. They are tough, they are mean and they will kill anything that resembles a K9 that makes them mad.
Irresponsible neighbors who had no problems letting their dogs run loose found out that our donkeys could and would protect the cows by all means necessary and taking out the ones who got into our cattle pasture. I hated having to take dead and wounded dogs back to their p.o.s. owners, especially as we have signs up and visible telling people the dangers to their dogs. We don't have wolves but have a ton of coyotes and the girls send them over the rainbow bridge, too. Now the coyotes stay the heck out of the pasture and we've not lost a single calf in several years. Oh, and the donkeys will chase 2-legged coyotes, too.
@@allisonshaw9341 That’s a very interesting story. You’ve got a great way of putting things, I was smiling all the time I was reading it. I’d love to live somewhere like that, whereabouts are you? I live in a boring little town in England.No donkeys,wolves or coyotes round here, lots of POS neighbours tho’😂😂😂
@@Dunst1 Just outside of Nashville, TN. My dad's family are Scots on his father's side, Welsh on his mother's, my maternal grandfather's family is Irish-descent, and my maternal grandmother's family mixed-blood Cherokee/Muskoki/Chickasaw/Shawnee/Rappahannock/Meherrin Indian, so I come by the oratory skills quite naturally. We've more than a few really good story-tellers in the family. As for POS neighbors, honestly, you could live out in the middle of nowhere and still end up with at least one.
@@allisonshaw9341 My Grandparents were Scottish and we used to go to Wales on holiday as kids. So I guess we’re almost related Haha. Wow, your family sound really interesting. I’d love to sit around a campfire with a few beers listening to their stories.I’ve been to a lot of countries but never the US. It’s on my to do list. I’ll get there soon hopefully.Anyway enough of my rambling, hope you have a nice day.
I couldn't find the Old Farmer's Almanac story about donkeys, but I remember reading it. As I remember, the article said that donkeys are very intelligent, and can remember people and events as far back as twenty-five years. Also, pound for pound, donkeys are stronger than horses. More, they make excellent guard animals, and have been known to trample and stomp coyotes into mush. Can they do that to wolves? It didn't say. But in a contest between a donkey and a wolf, I'd put my money on the donkey.
Grew up with burros and coyotes of course but not wolves, reading the comments here--consensus is they will indeed take on wolves effectively. Ours would toy with the wolf sized police dog, German Shepard from down the street when it came into his pasture, absolutely zero fear tho donk would feign fear to get a dog to come thru the fence, then it was game on. I'd imagine a pack of wolves might require a few donkeys but leave that to those who have such experience.
I can agree with your assessment donkey v. wolf, but unfortunately wolves come in packs. They're sort of famous for this. This, I'm sure, is why they've grouped the donkeys in threes and, as the video says, the ranchers would be happy if they merely stand their ground in the face of wolves. Wild animals only risk injury if desperate - the hope is that faced by a set of angry, aggressive donkeys the pack will go elsewhere for easier food.
Donkeys, mules, are very smart. Horses are not. If you are riding a donkey, or a make during the night, never worry about it falling in any hole or a cliff. They may throw you in it, but never will fall into it. Horses will go right into it. I know that, by living through it. I was a farmer and used them as a way of traveling!
@@Mrbfgray and the funny part of it is that Burro, in portuguez translated into " Dumb, Stupid" but not because how their sense works, it's just because they can breed. Meaning , dead end!
A donkey will kick the living snot out of a wolf and they are not scared of wolves. i have seen them used as guard animals for cows, sheep and other livestock.
If he brushes them, pats them they will be his friend, then if he see's a wolf, he can yell, "Wolf!" in a loud scared voice and they'll respond. They'll also make friends with the cows, sometimes having a favorite and hang around during calving.
Donkeys have been through enough generational trauma that they'll take out anything that resembles a dog i.e. coyotes, foxes, wild dogs. They'll go after people who aren't supposed to be in their territory as well. So having them as livestock guardians is a great idea.
Geese and donkeys, the perfect trespasser alarm system and attack repeller system. I know they will take on Coyote but I will be interested to see about wolves.
No doubt they have had this role with humans for multiple millennial. Based on comments here they indeed are very effective with wolves as well tho I'd guess it may take more than one donk to take on a wolf pack.
@@Mrbfgray Our donkeys took on Coyote all the time. They would put their head down and go in to attacked mode and try to stomp them, kicked and chased them away. We did haved 4 of donkeys and never we worried about them, but wolves are bigger and come in packs and they are smarter too and the Jill’s are being very protective of the other animals and young ones and the Jacks are territorial and go after any strangers. And the geese are all screaming and honking loudly for anything different or sneaky. And our geese are big as Canadian Honkers too. They can and have knocked down people they found around the yard. They are the perfect of alarm and attackers and I think they could taked on wolfs too because we have 22 of them and they act as a pack too. They go nutzoid over any thing wrong, even fires! But wolves are way different than anything they have fighted before. Alone they all would get wiped out but with both a pack of honkers and a pack of donkeys I think they can win, just but we might lose a.few and that is why am I not liking if wolves came around.
Farmers do that with Great Pyrenes dogs. They'll put the puppies in with the Ewes so they grow up with the lambs, and treat the sheep like their family. But when Coyotes comes around, . . . their instincts kick in and they'll hunt it down and kill it.
Brilliant, I’ve seen Donkeys used as protection on other videos too…also guardian dogs are used to protect sheep. They are brought up with lambs and go on to protect them, I’ve spotted some here in France. You cannot go near the sheep without the dogs going bonkers.. so protective. ♥️
Donkeys can be a very formidable opponent and super-protective. Once they establish that the cows are part of their herd, the wolves are gonna have a problem.
In Africa they use donkeys to protect livestock from Hyena's and other predators.The donkeys grab them from the back of their neck and stomp them in with their front legs they are fearless and aggressive to protect their area.
They have dogs in South Africa that guard their cattle from LIONS. Figures you could get some of those dogs & the cattle would be pretty safe. Though donkeys are pretty good, too.
Donkeys are much better guard animals. They don't require near as much training or care as dogs. Dogs have to be trained, Donkeys sort of do the protection job naturally.
Yes the Donkeys will do the job, I also liked he got them from the BLM, so he saved the Donkeys too! Plus they are wild and they know how to handle this problem.
The idiot politicians that go along with this nonsense never think about the lack of geographic education of predators. We should send our politicians and environmentalists to the fields to protect the cattle. Stake them to the ground and cover them in ground beef. That will keep the wolves and coyotes busy.
Man, one time when I was younger, my friends and I went out drunk one night cowtipping in rural Colorado.... Outta nowhere I hear: "HEEHAWWWW! HEHAWWWW!" and then BAM!!!...... That's all I remember.
Sadly, we have a donkey that killed a goat and had one of my lambs in his mouth at my sanctuary I realize that is not common but pretty scary, we are having to give the donkeys their own side of the Sanctuary.
They are not full-proof. A few years back at shearing time, a few ewes were lambing in the alley way. This donkey kept reaching over the fence, grabbing lambs and killing them. Uncle Ray finally went & got a gun and shot the sob. 20 years ago I left my llama & donkey together with some sheep on rented pasture. Dogs came 1 night and tore up some of my sheep. I watched one winter evening, as it was getting dark, the donkey and the llama buddied up and went to bed down in a low spot to get out of the wind and left the sheep unprotected. I removed the donkey and the llama went back to doing her job.
It's actually very common for donkeys to attack the offspring of the livestock they are suppose to be protecting. They are very territorial and in their mind something "new" like a lamb or kid doesn't belong in the territory and they go after it.
Good luck, but if they don’t work out, try Turkish Kangal Dogs. You need at least three. Do not mix the pack with other breeds. A study found they were the best at stopping predation by Coyotes, big cats, and bears. Wolves were not part of the study, but that is the animal the most contend with in Turkey. They seek high ground to watch. They patrol around the animals they guard. One dog stays close to the herd/flock, one chases the predators away. They are good with young animals or your kids. My old male sounds terrifying when he barks. His voice clears out coyotes from the area for at least a month…he KNOWS they are predators…the youngsters do, too. They alert to stuff going on, but when they hear the coyotes or smell a bear…wow…you see and hear the difference. They push the sheep toward the center of the property. The sheep go alert and WATCH the dogs for signals. We have sheep, but they will also guard cows.
@@Snarkapotamus would they work as a team tho, like wolves do. Don’t know much about it,living in a town in England. His ranch looked bigger than the town I live in. Haha. I’d love to live somewhere like that.
I can't help but wonder why they would reintroduce a dangerous predator animal like wolves to an area. Many years back, when people weren't so wide-spread, predators like mountain lions and wolves had huge areas to do their natural thing. And natives would also hunt them for their pelts, etc. which would control the populations near any settlements. But that isn't the case now. I think of all the deer here in our big city suburbs, and how they eat neighborhood garden plants, and have ever shrinking tiny pockets, like on the edges of certain school properties to "hide". The wolves will probably learn, like the bears around campgrounds, that food/prey around people are easier caught than the sparse wild kind.
Donkeys are about the cutest defense ever. And they're more powerful than you think. When you ask them if they feel fear, the donkeys just ask "Fear? Can I eat that?" , and they have stronk hooves and jaws so strong, the jaws are made for chewing out every little nutrient out of a plant.
Donkeys are actually formidable against wolves and other predators. They don't have the reputation of being vicious but they are. They're fearless they don't scary easily and they charge against predators, they they don't run away. And they actually bring calmness and tranquility to the animals
I just saw an interview with a Michigan farmer who had a history of the wolves attacking and killing his livestock until he got some donkeys. In the last 11 years since he got the donkeys, he has had zero losses from wolves.
Wolves are a natural part of the ecosystem. They belong there. It’s good to see a rancher being smart and employing donkeys to deter the wolves. Humans are the problem, not animals.
@@davidjenson4512 and maybe you don't know how to read...Elizabeth is pointing out that the wolves are indigenous to the area and belong there. Cattlemen have to learn to work with the ecosystem. Cattle are the foreigners to that land.
@@pnhnut It's called sarcasm. Get it? Reading is not a part of it. It's a video. Humans and cattle are just as much a part of the present "ecosystem" as the wolves. It's really funny to see modern humans calling themselves a problem, but they never offer to let the wolves take them out of the picture.
