The Nature of the Beast: Wolf Conflicts and Conservation in the Northern Rockies

• Main Authors: Stone SA, Fascione N, Schrader G, Weiss A, Sneed P, Musiani M.
• Other Authors: Stone SA, Fascione N, Schrader G, Weiss A, Sneed P, Musiani M.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: No keywords available; Northern Rockies; Tive; Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/906249

As wolves (Canis lupus) expand their range in the northern Rockies, associated conflicts with humans are inevitable. These conflicts often deepen negative social attitudes, which significantly affect wolf management, its costs, and the species’ survival. In 1987, Defenders of Wildlife initiated conflict mitigation initiatives such as compensating live- stock owners for wolf-related losses. To date, the program has provided over $320,000 through The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Wolf Compensation Trust, representing nearly all confirmed wolf depredation losses in the region. Additionally, Defenders has contributed over $200,000 in nonlethal deterrents and technical assistance to livestock owners. Investment in nonlethal control measures and improved livestock husbandry help reduce both losses and associated conflicts. By comparison, traditional lethal control programs are expensive, sometimes dangerous to human life, promote a relentless cycle of killing wolves, and provide, at best, only short-term results with respect to livestock protection. In 2004, we began surveying compensation recipients to evaluate the effectiveness of the livestock compensation program and to determine the level of interest in using nonlethal and proac- tive methods. Most respondents said they were “somewhat” to “highly satisfied” with the amount of compensation they received for their losses. Sixty-four percent of respondents stated that their tolerance toward wolves would be “moderately” to “significantly” lower if the compensation program ended. Additionally, the majority stated that Defenders’ wolf compensation program should continue once wolves transfer from federal to state man- agement. Most respondents also indicated an interest in learning about nonlethal methods, indicating supportive conditions for increased use of these management tools.