While the direct impacts of gray wolves (Canis lupis) and other predators on rangeland livestock production are more easily measured and well-documented, research in other Western states suggests that indirect impacts (e.g., reduced livestock productivity and increased expense) may be more economically significant. We initiated a long-term (10 year), longitudinal survey of rangeland cattle, sheep and goat producers in northern California to quantify the direct and indirect impacts from gray wolves, which are increasing in numbers in the state, and other large carnivores on rangeland livestock production. During winter/spring 2017, we hosted 7 producer-researcher workshops across northern California, which featured livestock-predator conflict experts. At these workshops, we collected the first round of survey data from 91 operations representing 41,034 head of beef cattle and 12,955 head of sheep and goats, and more than 1.13 million acres of grazing land. We will present our initial survey results, which have established a baseline for livestock production practices and economics in northern California. In addition, we will present preliminary findings regarding the adoption rate, efficacy and cost of a variety of commonly used livestock protection tools on rangeland livestock operations at a variety of scales.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.