New guide fosters improved relations between livestock producers and wolves
Proactive guide to nonlethal tools and methods to reduce conflicts
Published on Oct 10, 2008 - 8:10:54 AM

By: Defenders of Wildlife

BOISE, Idaho, Oct. 6, 2008 - After nearly 10 years of working in the field with livestock producers and agency officials, Defenders of Wildlife has released 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 livestock; 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 ranchers and conservationists seeing tangible benefits.

"Our program's goal is to reduce losses of both livestock and wolves to near zero, 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."

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 the proactive guide for livestock producers. "Livestock and Wolves; A Guide to Nonlethal Tools and Methods to Reduce Conflicts, " developed on the heels on a workshop that included participation from ranchers, wildlife managers and scientists, details the key nonlethal tactics and tools 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.

Defenders and The Bailey Wildlife Foundation created the Proactive Carnivore Conservation Fund with the goal of addressing the root causes of conflicts between wolves and livestock and to provide livestock owners and agency officials with on-the-ground tools and tactics to reduce the lethal control of wolves.

To receive a copy of "Livestock and Wolves; A Guide to Nonlethal Tools and Methods to Reduce Conflicts" contact Suzanne Stone at: (208)424-9385. For an electronic version, visit www.defenders.org/conservationsolutions

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