Lit Up Livestock? It Could Reduce Losses for Montana Ranchers

Imagine blinking beef, lighted lambs, or glowing goats. Silly as it may sound, it just might be a helpful new way to protect valuable livestock.

The Northern Ag Network tells us that a simple technology shows promise toward alleviating some of the predator vs. domesticated animal conflicts that plague so many farmers and ranchers across the country, including those in Montana.

Wolves, bears, cougars and coyotes are important parts of ecosystems of the West — and a pain for people who raise livestock there. Carnivores sometimes prey on cattle and sheep in pastures and on the open rangelands they share, creating a financial burden and emotional cost to ranchers, sometimes triggering lethal removal of the offending animals.

FLASHTAGS

Utah State University’s Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center reports that this new technology, FlashTags, are motion-activated LED ear tags that can be worn by livestock. According to new research, the small units are triggered by movement in the dark, emitting random light patterns that deter predators. The tags were primarily developed to deter wolves and coyotes but were tested in places that included other predators, such as mountain lions, black bears and grizzly bears.

WHY THEY WORK

Predators tend to avoid new things, according to Utah State's Julie Young, who led the team that included researchers, ranchers and land managers. Ranchers already employ plastic flagging attached to fences to frighten predators and protect newborn lambs and calves, but it’s a strategy impossible to implement over hundreds of miles of open rangeland.

FlashTags are a low-maintenance, low-cost, portable and nonlethal tool that shows exceptional promise against wolves and coyotes, Young said. They are an extension of standard plastic ear tags modified with a motion- and light-sensitive solar-powered LED light.

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THE CRITTERS DON'T SEEM TO MIND

The team began by testing whether the flashy new technology might negatively impact livestock behavior or health, but the livestock did not seem bothered by the distraction. There were no adverse effects reported for domestic sheep behavior or weight gain in the first year of the study. The owner of the test-herd was even convinced that the FlashTags helped, according to Ms. Young.

As with most new technology, there were some design flaws that hindered the durability of FlashTags, but the team remains vigilant and continues to make progress. Check out more fascinating details about the product and successful results in the Utah State University release here.