Livestock and predator conflict: Wildlife Services provide predator management update for Western states
Housed under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (WS) is a program designed to help people and wildlife coexist through leadership, research, management programs and industry expertise.
WS Western Regional Director Wendy Anderson of Fort Collins, Colo. spoke during the 56th Annual Public Lands Council Meeting in Grand Junction, Colo. on Sept. 18.
During her presentation, Anderson offered an update on WS’ activities across the West.
Livestock protection
To begin, Anderson noted protecting livestock from predators is one of WS’ foundational missions, with livestock organizations, state agencies and individual livestock producers contributing nearly 50 percent of financial resources for the agency’s work.
She also mentioned, in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), WS assisted sheep producers in 32 states.
The top five states receiving agency assistance were Nevada, Texas, California, Montana and Colorado, and the top five predators for which they provided assistance were coyotes, mountain lions, black bears, black vultures and feral dogs.
“In those 32 states, during FY23, WS lethally removed over 400 black bears and six grizzlies, 237 mountain lions, almost 300 gray wolves and over 68,000 coyotes for the protection of livestock,” Anderson shared.
“So far in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), we have provided more than 9,700 ranchers with predation reduction in 46 states and one territory on millions of acres of land which is home to nearly 83 million head of livestock,” she added.
WS Nonlethal Initiative
In addition to lethal take strategies, Anderson noted FY24 marks the fifth year of Congressional funding for the WS Nonlethal Initiative, which was established to expand the agency’s ability to respond to large carnivore depredation of livestock with nonlethal interventions.
Shortly after its inception, the program was expanded to also include nonlethal beaver damage management activities.
“It is important to note the WS Nonlethal Initiative does not impact our ongoing livestock protection work,” Anderson mentioned. “It just supplements our work, offering additional tools, resources and staff.”
According to Anderson, this funding, which totals around $4.5 million, was distributed to 12 states in the Western and Great Lakes regions and is used for research at the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC).
Scientists at NWRC are currently studying the effectiveness of range riding and fencing, while also looking at new technology using flashing air tags and drones as tools for harassing wolves, she noted.
Trapping and M44s
Anderson explained WS has also continued to invest in trapping as a wildlife damage management tool.
Most recently, the agency supported the research and development of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ report titled “Best Management Practices for Trapping in the U.S.”
The goal of the document, according to Anderson, is to promote trapping as a modern wildlife management tool; identify practical traps and techniques to improve efficiency, selectivity and the welfare of trapped animals and instill public confidence and maintain public support for trapping.
WS has also developed a new training program – The Fundamentals of Damage Management Trapping – over the past several years.
“This is important because fewer people are learning the skill of trapping in society today, and it is something which just can’t be learned in a college course,” said Anderson.
She pointed out in Fiscal Years 2021-23, WS set over 57,000 foot-hold traps nationwide to protect cattle, sheep and goats from predators.
M-44 Sodium Cyanide Injector Devices (M-44s) have been another common tool used by WS to mitigate predator damage. However, a provision in the FY24 Appropriations Bill prohibits the agency from purchasing, deploying or training third parties on the use of M-44s, as well as sodium fluoroacetate which is used in livestock protection collars.
Wolves
Wolves are the top predator of many Western producers’ minds, and Anderson noted WS plays an active role in wolf damage management across the Western range.
In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), WS helps conduct wolf damage management operations in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, California and Oregon.
This year, WS held the first-ever National Wolf Workshop to bring dozens of wildlife specialists and supervisors together to discuss work being done across individual states including depredation investigations, tools used in the field and technical demonstrations to increase collaboration and networking for field specialists.
WS is also working with the American Sheep Industry Association to create livestock guardian dog signs for use on private and public lands.
Avian predators
To finish out her discussion, Anderson touched on WS’ work with avian predators.
“WS is aware several avian predators negatively impact livestock, property and natural resources, and we continue to work with FWS and state agencies to mitigate damage since migratory birds have so many regulations restricting management options,” she said.
First, she noted, in the last 30 years black vulture populations have increased in both abundance and range, and therefore, producers have seen an increase in losses due to depredation.
In response, Anderson said WS provides both direct control and technical assistance to those experiencing black vulture depredation. In FY23, the agency removed 13,665 black vultures and dispersed over 57,000.
WS and FWS also designed a pilot program to expedite the permitting process for livestock producers in 13 states. And, Anderson noted, NWRC is currently conducting research on the history and ecology of black vultures, as well as ways to improve existing take models and developing new management tools and methods.
Additionally, U.S. Rep. John Rose (R-TN) introduced the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2023, a bipartisan bill which would allow livestock producers to take black vultures without a permit.
“This bill seems to have stalled for now, but hopefully it can be pushed again in the next Congress,” Anderson stated.
When it comes to eagles, Anderson noted there has been an increase in the number of complaints regarding golden and bald eagles on livestock operations.
“We coordinate with FWS to identify locations affected by eagle depredation to livestock, and upon WS recommendations or Form 37 Depredation Permits, FWS will authorize falconry groups the ability to capture depredating golden eagles for falconry use purposes and, in turn, reduce the site-specific threat the eagle poses to the livestock producer,” she explained.
“NWRC is also trying to secure funds to hire an avian predator biologist to assist with management solutions to avian predator situations,” she added.
Lastly, Anderson shared WS also frequently responds to raven conflicts, especially during lambing and calving seasons in the West.
“We also do raven wildlife damage management work in support of listed or at-risk species conservation in close coordination with other agency partners, including protecting the eggs of Greater sage grouse, Western snowy plover, California least turns and light-footed Ridgeway’s rail,” Anderson said.
“In FY23, we dispersed 99,000 ravens and lethally removed an additional 16,000 to support these activities. Lethal control was most heavily utilized in Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Oregon and California,” she concluded.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
