Domestic Dogs and Wildlife Interactions

Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) interface with wildlife in myriad ways, from direct predation and competitive exclusion to the transmission of pathogens and the alteration of native species’ behaviour. Their presence in natural areas can provoke shifts in activity patterns of native fauna, reshape trophic relationships and modulate habitat use. Free-ranging and feral dogs often penetrate protected areas, where unclear regulations and variable enforcement further exacerbate ecological impacts. Beyond direct mortality, dogs can induce a “landscape of fear” that drives prey species to avoid critical feeding or breeding sites, with cascading effects on ecosystem function. Conversely, managed dogs—such as livestock guardians—may provide surrogate predation pressure that alters herbivore and mesopredator distributions, suggesting complex roles for dogs in agro-ecosystems. Globally, research underscores the necessity of integrated management strategies that balance human needs, animal welfare and conservation objectives. Effective interventions range from regulatory clarity and public education to spatial planning and targeted population control, all aimed at fostering coexistence between dogs and wildlife.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies demonstrate that poor accessibility and clarity of regulations governing dog access to protected areas undermine public awareness and compliance, leading to increased encounters between dogs and sensitive wildlife. Analysis of visitor perceptions in South American reserves revealed that where rules are ambiguous or poorly communicated, dog incursions and associated conflicts are more frequent, prompting calls for streamlined signage, community engagement and consistent enforcement.

Experimental work on apex carnivores has shown that pumas exhibit minimal behavioural changes in response to dog vocalisations, in contrast to strong avoidance of human cues. This suggests that dogs alone may not trigger significant displacement of large predators, although they often accompany humans into wildlands. Management policies that restrict dogs but permit human access may therefore need reevaluation, emphasising the primacy of human disturbance over the perceived threat from dogs.

Domestic Dogs and Wildlife Interactions publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in domestic dogs and wildlife interactions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Free-ranging dog: A domestic dog that roams without direct human oversight, often entering wild habitats and interacting with native fauna.

Landscape of fear: A behavioural ecology concept describing how prey species modify space use and activity patterns in response to perceived predation risk.

Occupancy modelling: A statistical approach for estimating the probability that a species occupies a site, accounting for imperfect detection in survey data.

Surrogate top predator: A species that fulfils key ecological roles of an apex predator, influencing community structure through predation pressure or fear effects.

References

1. Lack of accessibility and clarity in regulations concerning dog access to protected areas lowers public awareness. Scientific Reports (2023).
2. Humans, but not their dogs, displace pumas from their kills: An experimental approach. Scientific Reports (2019).
3. Predatory Dogs as Drivers of Social Behavior Changes in the Central Himalayan Langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus) in Agro-Forest Landscapes. Biology (2024).
4. Mammalian carnivore occupancy is inversely related to presence of domestic dogs in the high Andes of Ecuador. PLOS ONE (2018).
5. Livestock guardian dogs as surrogate top predators? How Maremma sheepdogs affect a wildlife community. Ecology and Evolution (2016).