Eco-friendly predator management

Safe lambs are only a stone's throw away, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout, recommending a stone barrier to keep predators away from flocks.

- Roelof Bezuidenhout

Packing a line of stones along the bottom of a camp fence is probably the most cost-effective non-lethal way of controlling the movement of black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas).

These predators keep you busy and can wipe out half of your lamb crop before you know it.

Packing stones to keep predators out of lambing areas works well, according to small-stock farmers who have done it.

It won’t keep caracal (Caracal caracal) out, however, as these cats can climb right over.

And the fence must still be patrolled and checked regularly, as with electrified fences, for holes made by burrowing animals such as aardvark (