This workshop would present a collaborative environment for a discussion on minimizing livestock depredation on rangelands using a variety of innovative tools and methods. Predators play a critical role in rangeland ecosystems (e.g., protecting riparian areas by stabilizing herbivore populations), but they can also impact ranchers' businesses when they predate on their livestock. Several strategies that minimize contact between predators and wildlife are being successfully applied across the US. In addition, innovative payment mechanisms to compensate landowners for the presence of predators are also being successfully implemented. Strategies for preventing and reducing depredation are constantly evolving. This workshop will help ranchers and land managers learn about the most current nonlethal methods of predator control and compensation mechanisms. The workshop will include presentations about the deployment of proven effective predator deterrents and practices. By featuring a wide range of practitioners, ranchers and other stakeholders, we hope to make participants feel comfortable discussing their experiences with livestock depredation and predators on rangelands, as well as any concerns they have with incorporating deterrents and new animal husbandry strategies into their practices. The workshop would also include periods for open discussion to generate ideas about how livestock producers can better protect their animals from predators and elicit questions and concerns from the range management, ranching, and conservation communities. Goals of the workshop are to share information about deterrents and husbandry strategies to reduce livestock depredation on the range to reduce conflict between livestock and predators. The workshop will also serve to build tolerance for native predators on rangelands and empower managers and ranchers to prevent livestock depredations. Finally, small group sessions will allow stakeholders to further discuss native predators and share experiences with the solutions discussed in the workshop.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.