Defenders of Wildlife Takes Action to Reduce Wolf and Grizzly Deaths

(05/20/2003) - WASHINGTON - Defenders of Wildlife today announced the completion of 63 projects nationwide to protect threatened wolves and grizzly bears. Defenders has disbursed more than $197,000 since 1999 from The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Fund to assist landowners with on-the-ground projects that reduce potential conflict between large predators and humans and their livestock. This fund builds on the effective work of Defenders' nationally-acclaimed compensation trusts, which pay ranchers for verified livestock losses to wolves or grizzly bears; to date, Defenders' compensation and proactive trusts have paid out more than a half million dollars to livestock producers and others who live with wolves and bears.

"Proactive conservation keeps carnivores and livestock apart, and that keeps them both alive," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. "Our success at expanding the range of wolves and other predators in North America depends on reducing contact between these wild creatures and livestock. It's the time of year that this investment in prevention really pays off, when bears are emerging from their dens and calves and lambs are being born."

Establishment of The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Fund has allowed Defenders to perform cost-share and planning work with ranchers, sheep producers and others who have conflicts with endangered wolves and grizzly bears in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, New Mexico and Arizona. Defenders has also helped pay for proactive measures dealing with Florida black bears, red wolves in North Carolina, and wolves in the Great Lakes region.

Projects include erecting electric fencing around calving grounds, sheep bedding grounds and bee yards; purchasing livestock guarding dogs; buying bear-proof dumpsters and lockers; using alarm systems and fladry to deter wolves; paying for hay or alternate pasture to keep livestock and wolves apart; and providing financial incentives to relocate sheep from a high conflict allotment to a place with less chance of depredation.

"Lethal control by government agencies in response to livestock predation is the single biggest cause of wolf mortality in the Northern Rockies" said Suzanne Stone, Defenders of Wildlife's Northwestern Field Representative. "Preventing conflict before it occurs is one of the smartest, most effective actions conservationists can take to keep wild wolves in wild habitats."

Lethal control by state and federal wildlife agencies can have a significant impact on predator populations. In Montana, for example, government lethal control stemming from livestock predation has resulted in the deaths of two entire wolf packs already this year and others are facing the same threat. Most wolves and bears tend to avoid humans and things associated with them, however, so even simple techniques to discourage predation in the first place can be remarkably effective.

"We're putting our money where our mouth is, by investing in tangible projects with measurable benefits for wolves, bears and people" said Minette Johnson, Defenders of Wildlife Northern Rockies Field Representative. "When it comes to livestock and wild predators, good fences really do make good neighbors."

John Hayne, a sheep grower in Depuyer, Montana, has had success using electric fences - built with assistance from Defenders - to keep bears away from his sheep. "I haven't had a single problem with bears since we've been putting the sheep the protected bedding ground,' commented Hayne.

"Building fences like these is win-win situation" said Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park's Bear Conflict Specialist, Mike Madel "People don't lose livestock and we don't have to kill problem bears".

Defenders was able to establish the Proactive Carnivore  Conservation Fund thanks to generous grants by The Bailey Wildlife Foundation, the Tapeats Foundation, the Liz Claiborne & Art Ortenberg Foundation, Wilburforce Foundation, Earth Friends, Wendy P.McCaw Foundation and Wolf Education and Research Center. Funding by these foundations has supported pioneering work by Defenders of Wildlife on a variety of proactive measures to reduce wildlife conflicts with humans.

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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation  organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive  advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 430,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues. To stay current on hot topics in wildlife conservation, subscribe to DENlines, Defenders of Wildlife's electronic update and action alert network. To subscribe to DENlines or for more information on Defenders of Wildlife projects, please visit www.defenders.org.

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Contact(s):

Brad DeVries, (202) 772-0237
Minette Johnson, (406) 549-0761