Buzz
For centuries, we've relied on dogs to guard us, but recent findings suggest they aren't the only animals capable of providing protection.
Other creatures have demonstrated that they can rival or even surpass dogs when it comes to guarding. Some are trained specifically for the task, while others, like wild animals, naturally serve as deterrents to threats.
10. Geese
Geese make excellent guardians. Their vision, both close and far, surpasses ours, enabling them to spot even the tiniest movements. They're territorial by nature and will loudly honk to warn off any intruders that come too close to their domain.
Unlike dogs, geese are not easily swayed. Give them a treat, and they'll respond with loud honking in excitement. While this may seem like their way of saying thanks, it serves as a useful alarm to warn their owners of any potential intruders.
Farmers often use geese to protect their free-range chickens, and in some remote Chinese police stations, geese are replacing guard dogs. In one noteworthy case, a man attempting to steal a motorbike from a police station was caught when the geese alerted the officers to his presence. He was quickly apprehended.
9. Donkeys
Donkeys are frequently misunderstood as slow, docile, and dull creatures. This perception can mislead an intruder, who may not realize that donkeys are fiercely territorial and can be very aggressive. They are naturally hostile to animals like dogs, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats, making them ideal protectors for livestock.
When threatened, a donkey will bray loudly and launch vicious attacks with its teeth and hooves, targeting any part of the intruder’s body. A donkey charging in defense is extremely dangerous, even to its own owner. Farmers with guard donkeys are advised not to approach them immediately after a charge; the animal needs time to calm down first.
Castrated male donkeys or females with foals are the best guardians. The foal may even grow up to be a guard donkey in its own right. However, not all donkeys make reliable guards. Some ignore wild animals, while others only act when directly threatened.
The most timid donkeys will flee as soon as they sense danger. In some cases, they even pose a risk to the very animals they are meant to protect. Certain donkeys refuse to guard livestock altogether, choosing instead to mind their own business.
8. Alligators
Drug dealers are known to use aggressive animals to guard their illicit goods. While pit bulls were once the go-to choice, many dealers are now opting for alligators. Police forces across the United States have found alligators stationed at criminal hideouts.
In addition to their role as guards, drug dealers also keep alligators as status symbols or to intimidate others. It’s clear that no one wants to cross someone who owns an alligator. For example, in Maryland, police seized a 0.9-meter-long (3 ft) alligator from drug dealer Michael Golden's home during a marijuana raid.
Golden had little positive to say about the alligators, other than noting that they hadn't been stealing his marijuana stash. He described them as crazy, untrainable, and unwise. The only time they listened to him was when he had food in his hand. Clearly, the alligators were also a threat to the drug dealers themselves.
7. Llamas
Llamas are highly effective at guarding livestock. They work particularly well against dogs and foxes, though they may not be the best deterrent for humans. However, llamas don’t just let strangers approach their animals. When they sense an unfamiliar presence, they often grow agitated, stomping their feet and making loud noises, which alerts farmers and helps drive off intruders.
Llamas have even been known to chase humans off their farms. While they don’t usually harm humans, they have been observed chasing and killing foxes. Their suspicious and territorial nature makes them excellent guardians of livestock. They are particularly wary of carnivores like dogs and wolves, and will readily attack when threatened.
In some cases, livestock develop a stronger bond with llamas than with dogs. This attachment can lead llamas to exhibit aggressive behavior toward the farmer’s pets or family. In these situations, farmers must separate the llama from the herd before they can safely interact with the animals.
Small groups of female llamas are the most effective guards. Castrated male llamas were once the preferred choice, but they often became more focused on fighting over territory and female livestock. When bonded, these males would tend to roam together, leaving the livestock unprotected.
Uncastrated male llamas are even less effective. Their primary focus is often on mating with the animals they are supposed to be guarding. This can sometimes result in injury or even death for the protected animals due to the larger size of the llamas.
Female llamas, however, do not exhibit these tendencies. They form bonds and remain focused on guarding. Still, the gender of the llama alone doesn't ensure it will be a good protector. Some llamas will flee when danger arises, leaving the livestock vulnerable.
6. Wolves
In some villages in Kazakhstan, residents are turning to domesticated wolves for protection against wild wolves. Villagers purchase wolf cubs for about $500 and raise them into adulthood. This is in response to a growing number of wolf attacks, with no intervention from the government.
The guard wolves are treated much like dogs. Some are even allowed to roam freely around their owners' properties. One person commented that wolves are generally calm creatures and will never attack their owners as long as they are fed. However, many experts caution against keeping wolves as pets, arguing that all wolves remain wild animals and could turn unpredictable at any moment.
5. Pigs
In 2003, an Israeli organization called the Hebrew Battalion unveiled plans to train pigs as guards. The pigs were intended to protect Jewish areas in the volatile West Bank. According to Hebrew Battalion, pigs have a superior sense of smell compared to dogs, making them ideal for detecting weapons and explosives.
The plan stirred controversy in Israel, where pig farming is prohibited and pigs are considered unclean by Jews. Due to these religious concerns, Hebrew Battalion had to seek approval from rabbis before moving forward with the initiative. The rabbis gave their consent, but there have been no reports confirming whether the pigs were ever trained.
4. Dolphins
Dolphins are also effective guard animals, though their use is primarily confined to the military. As part of the US Navy Marine Mammal Program, the military trains dolphins to patrol and protect ships, coastal facilities, and other key areas of interest.
When a dolphin detects an enemy or locates a mine, it returns to its trainer's boat to retrieve a transponder. The dolphin then attaches the transponder to the enemy diver or the mine, allowing military personnel to be sent to disable the threat.
There are rumors, though unconfirmed, that the US Navy has armed dolphins with compressed gas needles, allegedly enabling them to kill enemy divers. The Navy has denied these claims. However, there is speculation that the CIA may have trained dolphins to plant explosives on enemy ships.
During the Vietnam War, between 1970 and 1971, dolphins were deployed to protect an ammunition depot at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. In 1987, they were used to safeguard the US naval fleet in Bahrain during the Iran-Iraq War.
In the 2003 invasion of Iraq, dolphins were tasked with clearing mines around US naval ships. They were also used in 2012 to locate mines placed by the Iranian military in the Strait of Hormuz. Today, dolphins are stationed at Naval Base Kitsap in Washington, which houses nuclear weapons.
3. Snakes
In South Africa, an increasing number of people are turning to snakes to protect their homes and businesses from criminals and gangs. The snakes typically chosen for this purpose include brown house snakes, California kingsnakes, pythons, and boa constrictors.
Some businesses have up to six snakes stationed around their properties. For example, the co-owner of one business managed to drive off three thieves by charging at them with a python in hand. Meanwhile, homes and businesses without snakes often display “Beware of Snake” signs. Some even mistakenly believe that snakes are superior guards to dogs, assuming that snakes are always alert since they don't sleep.
This belief likely stems from the fact that snakes lack eyelids and keep their eyes open even when resting. However, it’s crucial to avoid approaching a motionless snake, as it can be impossible to tell whether it’s merely relaxing or actually sleeping.
In 2007, luxury department store Harrods employed a live cobra to protect a pair of costly shoes during a launch event. The shoes, priced at $152,000, were adorned with rubies, sapphires, and diamonds.
It remains uncertain whether the snake was truly hired to protect the shoes or if it was simply a media stunt. Regardless, a venomous cobra guarding expensive shoes would certainly discourage any would-be thief, even if that wasn’t its intended purpose.
2. Crocodiles
In 2015, Budi Waseso, head of Indonesia’s anti-drug campaign, announced plans to create an island prison to house death-row drug convicts, guarded by crocodiles. Waseso emphasized that crocodiles were the perfect choice because, unlike humans, they couldn't be bribed. To ensure security, he vowed to acquire the largest crocodiles available.
Indonesia’s anti-drug efforts have been frequently undermined by corrupt prison officials who accept bribes to allow drug convicts to escape. Some guards even assist in smuggling drugs. It’s not uncommon for guards to be caught in drug-related crimes and subsequently imprisoned.
After facing mockery for his crocodile prison plan, Waseso disclosed that, in the event of a staff shortage, tigers and piranhas would be used as guards. Let’s remember, the staff members in question would actually be the crocodiles themselves. Slamet Pribadi, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s anti-drug agency, confirmed that the plan to build a prison guarded by wild animals was serious and not a joke.
1. Sea Lions
Sea lions are yet another marine mammal trained as part of the US Navy’s Marine Mammal Program. Like dolphins, they are intelligent and relatively easy to train. While dolphins can use echolocation to detect underwater mines, sea lions lack this ability. However, they more than compensate for it with their exceptional vision. They are also amphibious, able to move between land and water with ease.
The US Navy employs sea lions to protect military ships and facilities, detect enemy divers and underwater mines, and retrieve items from beneath the surface. One of their primary tasks is recovering unarmed training mines.
While submerged, a sea lion holds a clamp in its mouth as it searches for a training mine. Upon locating it, the sea lion attaches the clamp to the mine, allowing its handlers on the boat to pull the mine to the surface. Sea lions can also use these clamps to immobilize enemy divers by attaching them to their legs.
