Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) mortality by entanglement in wire fences

Abstract

Wire fences are widely used in rangelands around the world and may have a negative impact on wildlife that varies among species and habitats. The guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is the largest Patagonian ungulate and though entanglement in wire fences is frequently reported, its impact on guanaco populations has not been previously evaluated. We estimated annual mortality rate of wild guanacos due to entanglement in wire fences and evaluated whether the frequency of entanglement was age-dependent in the two wire-fence designs traditionally used in Patagonian sheep ranches. We found that annual yearling mortality on fences (5.53%) was higher than adult mortality (0.84%) and was more frequent in ovine (93. cm high) than bovine (113. cm) fences. Most guanacos died entangled by their legs in the highest wire when trying to jump over the fence. Our results suggest that guanacos are more likely to die due to fence entanglement than ungulates studied in other regions. Indirect effects of wire fences should also be considered as they may act as semi-permeable barriers for guanaco populations. We suggest removal of unnecessary wire fences and replacement by guanaco-friendly fences, like high-tensile electric fences that may reduce mortality and barrier-effect on guanaco populations.