in Denver and a WolfSheep System in Idaho NWRC Mission Apply scientific expertise to resolve humanwildlife conflicts while maintaining the quality of the environment shared with wildlife Stewart ID: 469413
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Being Better at Prevention: Lessons from Urban Coyotes in Denver and a Wolf-Sheep System in Idaho
NWRC MissionApply scientific expertise to resolve human-wildlife conflicts while maintaining the quality of the environment shared with wildlife
Stewart
BreckCarnivore EcologistUSDA-Wildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Research CenterSlide2
My BackgroundSlide3
Conflict on the Rise….Slide4
This Can Be Appropriate
Want To Minimize Limited Experience
Reactive Management of Conflict Slide5
“Carnivore
Conservation is not just about saving rare species, but also prudently managing abundant ones.” David MacdonaldWhat is Prudent?Realistic Win-Win SituationsSlide6Slide7
Creating Win-Win Scenarios
What is Win-WinFewer Livestock or Pets Killed by PredatorsLess Lethal Control of Predators ArguePrevention is KeyUnderstanding and working with AFFECTED Stakeholders is Critical Slide8
Fences
FladryVisual RepellentsAcoustic Repellents ProjectilesElectric CollarsConditioned Taste AversionChemical RepellentsSterilization
Immuno-contraceptionTranslocationLivestock Guarding Animals
Hazing
Aggregate Grazing
Shepherding
Hotspot Avoidance
Control of Birthing
Night Pens
Disposal of Carcasses
Reducing Garbage
Controlling Pets
Education
Law Enforcement
Fences
Our Non-lethal Tool Box
Managing Predators
Managing the ResourcesSlide9
How Full Is Our Tool Box?
Our Tool Box is Pretty Full.The bigger problem is that we don’t THOUGHTFULLY use them.Slide10
Recommendation #
of ranches Avoid handling/contacting wildlife 122Change class of livestock 22Change feeding schedule 701Change time of breeding 705Eliminate wildlife feeding 1137
Exclusion/fencing 1895Guarding animals 1655Harassment/hazing 1750Legal harvest 341Herding
1111Husbandry 917Penning/Confinement of livestock 717Relocate livestock/change pastures 1330Shed lambing (calving/birthing) 1303
WS recommendations to Stakeholders in Montana 2014Slide11
So Why Aren’t Non-Lethal Tools Used More…Slide12
Denver Metro Area Coyote Study
Study Objectives:
Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Conflict
Human Dimensions
Management Inventory Survey
DMA Coyote Survey
Urban Coyote Ecology
Link movement and activity to conflict patterns
Develop estimate of coyote population in DMA
Evaluate food habits of coyote in DMA
Urban Coyote Behavior
Determine if urban coyotes are bolder/more aggressive than rural coyotes
Quantify coyote tolerance of people
Urban Coyote Management – Can behavior be suitably altered
Test community hazing
Test area exclusion hazing (airport study)
Develop behavioral profileSlide13
Emergence of Urban Coyote Conflict in DenverSlide14
Conflict Reports on Dogs and People
Prediction 7: More Aggressive Behavior Toward Pets and PeopleSlide15
Denver Urban AreaU.S. Census BureauSlide16
Are coyotes in the Denver Metro Area bolder or more aggressive?
Urban Coyotes Eating People
Urban Coyotes Trailing People
Emergence of Aggressive
Behavior Toward PeopleSlide17
Coyote Ecology and Behavior in the Denver Metropolitan AreaSlide18
Capturing Coyotes
April 2012-May 2013Padded foothold traps and snaresTTDsTrap-AlertMeasurements and blood drawGPS Collar and ear tags
Photo Credit:
Jiancarlo
UlloaSlide19
Estimate of Coyote Population Size in Denver
Mean
Lower Est.
Higher Est.
Est. # Packs
111.5
78.7
191.3
Est. Pack Size-Winter
4
2
6
Est. Pack Size-Summer
8.4
5.3
11.6
Est. #
Residents-Winter
446
157
1,148
Est. # Residents-Summer
937
417
2,219
Est. # Transients (15% Adults)
67
24
172
Est. Total Coyotes-Winter
513
181
1,320
Est. Total Coyotes-Summer
1,004
441
2,391Slide20
The Problem: “Wallpaper Effect”
One of the factors leading to human-coyote conflict includes human acceptance of or indifference to coyote presence. (Schmidt 2007)Slide21
Hypothesize Coyotes Developing Aggressive Behavior
Less Aggressive MoreSlide22
Behavioral Thresholds
Coyotes attacking Pets
Coyotes attacking People
Less Aggressive MoreSlide23
Selection Pressures in Urban Areas
Coyotes attacking People
Less Aggressive MoreSlide24
Coyotes have become Bolder and More Aggressive Toward People and Pets in DenverResult of Humans Becoming Less Relevant to Coyotes
Take Home PointsSlide25
QuestionsWhat is Prudent Management of Urban Coyotes?
How Do We Use Non-Lethal Strategies To Reduce Problems Slide26
Hazing to Help People and Coyotes
Using coyote hazing at the community level to change behavior and reduce human-coyote conflict in urban environmentsSlide27
Can we get the public to haze coyotes and does this help?Slide28
Challenges: on the coyote side
Are coyotes too smart for aversive conditioning? Do coyotes figure out who is doing the hazing and who is not?Can hazing have a lasting, community-wide effect? Should it be seen more as a personal safety tool?Slide29
Challenges: on the human side
People hate the word, “Hazing is a pretentious and confusing word to use.”People don’t want to haze or they want someone else to do the hazing for them,
“I am uncomfortable with yelling and clapping my hands out loud in public.” What if not everyone is willing to haze? Hazing impacts are difficult to isolate and measure for research purposes.Slide30
Study Design
Treatment and Control (bias toward treatments)Hazing sitesPre-treatment (Reporting signs)Treatment (Hazing signs)Post-treatment (Reporting signs)
Control SitesPre-treatment (Reporting signs)No signsPost-treatment (Reporting signs)Slide31
Study Methods – Hazing TreatmentSlide32
Study Methods - Hazing Education
Hazing tips on signsAccess to an educational video:“How to Haze a Coyote”
Slide33
Study Results-Coyote Side
No Measureable Affect On Coyote Behavior
At 2 of 3 Treatment Sites, Coyotes Were Lethally Removed within 1 MonthSlide34
Study Results-Human SideSlide35
Study Results-Human SideSlide36
Attitudes, Beliefs, Perceptions
What the hell? This is ABSURD AND CRUEL!!!I am sending a notice to PETA and all local animal rights groups immediately, in hopes that you will CEASE AND DESIST this inhumane experiment.Slide37
Attitudes, Beliefs, Perceptions
The majority of dog owners that I have seen use the park are morons. Countless owners take their dog up to "play" with the coyotes...Can you put up signs encouraging people to haze the stupid dog owners as well?Slide38
Attitudes, Beliefs, Perceptions
Conspiracy TheoryFirst Jefferson County wanted to pave the park over to provide “Children Play Spaces”. Now you want us to harass wildlife. NO. Again, NO.
Leave the park and its environment alone. Next step, impeach this board. Slide39
Take Home From Denver Study
What is Prudent Management of Urban Coyotes?Lethal Removal of Bad ActorsEducation of Public is EssentialHow Do We Use Non-Lethal Strategies To Reduce Problems?Must Implement Before Problems StartLong-term Effort Affected Stakeholders Must be Willing to HelpSlide40
Wolf and Sheep in IdahoWood River Project
Conceived by WSRun by DefendersInvolved 4 Sheep Producers
Sheparding 24/7Modern Non-Lethal ToolsEducationSlide41
Wood River Project in IdahoSlide42Slide43
After accounting for the number of “Sheep Days” the unprotected area had aSlide44
Wood River ResultsReduced sheep losses to wolves
No wolves were killed in protected areaInitially the effort was very intenseOver time producers figured things outHaving the producers willing to participate was hugeHaving an NGO willing to fund effort was hugeSlide45
ConclusionsGoal is To Reduce Lethal Control
Sue and Be Divisive ORWork Together and Help Affected StakeholdersWS can be better at catalyzing these effortsNGO’s can assist with energy and fundingAffected Stakeholders must embrace effortsCan we create Long-term incentives?