Rangeland Ecology & Management

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DIRECT/INDIRECT IMPACTS TO RANCHERS FROM WOLVES AND OTHER PREDATORS: BUILDING A BASELINE IN CALIFORNIA
Author
Baldwin, Roger
Lile, David
Macon, Daniel K.
Stager, Robert D.
Stackhouse, Jeff
Rivers, Carissa
Saitone, Tina
Schohr, Tracy
Snell, Laura K.
Harper, John
Ingram, Roger
Rodrigues, Kim
Macaulay, Luke
Roche, Leslie
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2018
Body

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.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Reno, NV