Is Wildlife Going to the Dogs? Impacts of Feral and Free-roaming Dogs on Wildlife Populations

Authors

Julie K. Young, Utah State UniversityFollow
Kirk A. Olson, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Richard P. Reading, Denver Zoological FoundationFollow
Sukh Amgalanbaatar, Institute of Biology at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences in Ulaanbaatar
Joel Berger, University of Montana - Missoula

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2-2011

Citation

BioScience 61: 125–132. ISSN 0006-3568, electronic ISSN 1525-3244; doi:10.1525/bio.2011.61.2.7

Abstract

In human-populated landscapes, dogs (Canis familiaris) are often the most abundant terrestrial carnivore. However, dogs can significantly disrupt or modify intact ecosystems well beyond the areas occupied by people. Few studies have directly quantified the environmental or economic effects of free-roaming and feral dogs. Here, we review wildlife-dog interactions and provide a case study that focuses on interactions documented from our research in Mongolia to underscore the need for studies designed to best determine how dogs affect native wildlife and especially imperiled populations. We suggest additional research, public awareness campaigns, and the exclusion of dogs from critical wildlife habitat. The application of scientific findings to management and enhanced public outreach programs will not only facilitate recovery and maintenance of wildlife populations globally but also has the potential to reduce economic losses.