Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany
Predation on livestock presents a daunting challenge for human–carnivore coexistence in agricultural landscapes. In Germany, the recolonization of wolves is ongoing and its consequences are insufficiently understood. Knowledge about which livestock species are susceptible to wolf predation, which fa...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:918e145f32ca47f19a6e494100a7a366 2023-05-15T15:51:11+02:00 Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany Christian Kiffner Sandra Uthes Emu-Felicitas Ostermann-Miyashita Verena Harms Hannes J. König 2022-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2022.989368 https://doaj.org/article/918e145f32ca47f19a6e494100a7a366 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2022.989368/full https://doaj.org/toc/2673-611X 2673-611X doi:10.3389/fcosc.2022.989368 https://doaj.org/article/918e145f32ca47f19a6e494100a7a366 Frontiers in Conservation Science, Vol 3 (2022) Canis lupus human-wildlife coexistence human-wildlife conflict human-wildlife interactions pastoralism General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2022.989368 2022-12-30T22:29:40Z Predation on livestock presents a daunting challenge for human–carnivore coexistence in agricultural landscapes. In Germany, the recolonization of wolves is ongoing and its consequences are insufficiently understood. Knowledge about which livestock species are susceptible to wolf predation, which farm types are predisposed to attacks by wolves, and when predation on livestock occurs is valuable for mitigating stakeholder conflicts. To this end, we analyzed 14 years of monitoring data and assessed the livestock prey spectrum, identified correlates between predation on livestock, farm type and livestock category, and described temporal patterns of livestock loss caused by a recolonizing wolf population in the state of Brandenburg (Germany). Among a total of 1387 recorded cases, 42% were unequivocally attributed to wolves (SCALP criteria C1 and C2) and 12% of cases were not caused by wolves. The number of head of livestock killed during a single wolf attack was mediated by farm type and livestock species; losses per event were greater in full-time farms vs. other farm types and greater in sheep, farmed deer and other livestock species, compared to cattle. While sheep were the most commonly killed livestock species, the increase in wolf territories over the investigation period was associated with a widening of the domestic prey species spectrum. Count regression models provided evidence for the increasing frequency of predation events over the 14-year period, along with an exponential increase in wolf territories. Predation on livestock occurred throughout the year, yet seasonality of events was evident and differed across livestock categories. Predation on sheep peaked in the fall, coinciding with the post-weaning period of wolf offspring. Predation on cattle peaked in the spring, coinciding with the cattle calving period. These results call for renewed investment in the implementation of prevention methods for all susceptible domestic species, particularly during times of elevated predation risk. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Frontiers in Conservation Science 3 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Canis lupus human-wildlife coexistence human-wildlife conflict human-wildlife interactions pastoralism General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 |
spellingShingle |
Canis lupus human-wildlife coexistence human-wildlife conflict human-wildlife interactions pastoralism General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 Christian Kiffner Sandra Uthes Emu-Felicitas Ostermann-Miyashita Verena Harms Hannes J. König Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany |
topic_facet |
Canis lupus human-wildlife coexistence human-wildlife conflict human-wildlife interactions pastoralism General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution QH1-199.5 |
description |
Predation on livestock presents a daunting challenge for human–carnivore coexistence in agricultural landscapes. In Germany, the recolonization of wolves is ongoing and its consequences are insufficiently understood. Knowledge about which livestock species are susceptible to wolf predation, which farm types are predisposed to attacks by wolves, and when predation on livestock occurs is valuable for mitigating stakeholder conflicts. To this end, we analyzed 14 years of monitoring data and assessed the livestock prey spectrum, identified correlates between predation on livestock, farm type and livestock category, and described temporal patterns of livestock loss caused by a recolonizing wolf population in the state of Brandenburg (Germany). Among a total of 1387 recorded cases, 42% were unequivocally attributed to wolves (SCALP criteria C1 and C2) and 12% of cases were not caused by wolves. The number of head of livestock killed during a single wolf attack was mediated by farm type and livestock species; losses per event were greater in full-time farms vs. other farm types and greater in sheep, farmed deer and other livestock species, compared to cattle. While sheep were the most commonly killed livestock species, the increase in wolf territories over the investigation period was associated with a widening of the domestic prey species spectrum. Count regression models provided evidence for the increasing frequency of predation events over the 14-year period, along with an exponential increase in wolf territories. Predation on livestock occurred throughout the year, yet seasonality of events was evident and differed across livestock categories. Predation on sheep peaked in the fall, coinciding with the post-weaning period of wolf offspring. Predation on cattle peaked in the spring, coinciding with the cattle calving period. These results call for renewed investment in the implementation of prevention methods for all susceptible domestic species, particularly during times of elevated predation risk. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Christian Kiffner Sandra Uthes Emu-Felicitas Ostermann-Miyashita Verena Harms Hannes J. König |
author_facet |
Christian Kiffner Sandra Uthes Emu-Felicitas Ostermann-Miyashita Verena Harms Hannes J. König |
author_sort |
Christian Kiffner |
title |
Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany |
title_short |
Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany |
title_full |
Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany |
title_fullStr |
Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany |
title_full_unstemmed |
Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany |
title_sort |
patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in germany |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2022.989368 https://doaj.org/article/918e145f32ca47f19a6e494100a7a366 |
genre |
Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus |
op_source |
Frontiers in Conservation Science, Vol 3 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2022.989368/full https://doaj.org/toc/2673-611X 2673-611X doi:10.3389/fcosc.2022.989368 https://doaj.org/article/918e145f32ca47f19a6e494100a7a366 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2022.989368 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Conservation Science |
container_volume |
3 |
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1766386249097019392 |