Defenders' Experts
Livestock and Wolves: A Guide to Nonlethal Tools and Methods to Reduce Conflicts
After nearly 10 years
of working in-the-field with livestock producers and agency officials, Defenders
of Wildlife has released:
Livestock and Wolves: A Guide to Nonlethal Tools and Methods to Reduce Conflicts
Authors: Suzanne Asha Stone, Nina Fascione, Craig Miller, Jim Pissot, Gina Schrader, Jesse Timberlake
Published: September 2008
This is a comprehensive guide that outlines a wide range of nonlethal methods that are working to reduce livestock losses to wolves.
Effective deterrents used to reduce conflict with wolves include:
- properly disposing of sick, dead and dying animals;
- livestock guarding dogs; fencing, fladry and night pens;
- range riders and herders;
- using scare devices;
- alternative grazing sites and more.
The results of these efforts have been encouraging and successful, with both sides seeing tangible benefits.
“Our program’s goal is near zero losses of both livestock and wolves using common sense, cost effective deterrents,” said Suzanne Asha Stone, Northern Rockies field representative. “By working collaboratively with ranchers and biologists in wolf country, we’re developing a great record of successful projects. Our hope is that this guide will allow more ranchers to take advantage of these important tools.”
What our rancher partners are saying about these tools
A range rider for a ranch in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana, Doug Hesse, has noticed a “drastic improvement from last year’s cattle situation,” since turning to Defenders and state wolf managers for assistance. “It appears the range rider program is working at the ranch,” said Hesse. “I believe that all things considered, some major and very realistic successes have been achieved – several hundred head, on several thousand mountainous, wooded acres in prime habitat for a very stout wolf pack, and both the cattle and wolves are still firmly intact.”
Mike Stevens, President of Lava Lake Land and Livestock in Idaho – home to over 5,000 head of sheep – has had a successful year working with Defenders to use nonlethal deterrents “Thanks to Defenders,” Stevens said, “we all just pulled off what I think is a remarkable accomplishment, which was grazing a band of 1,000 sheep for a month in the immediate daily presence of a wolf pack with no losses of sheep or wolves.”
It is success stories like these that inspired the development of this guide for livestock producers. Its nonlethal tactics and tools are designed to limit conflicts, while keeping in mind that every livestock operation is unique and there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution.
For more information about this guide contact Suzanne Stone.
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