Evaluating Wolf Translocation as a Nonlethal Method to Reduce Livestock Conflicts in the Northwestern United States

Abstract

Successful nonlethal management of livestock predation is important for conserving rare or endangered carnivores. In the northwestern United States, wolves (Canis lupus) have been translocated away from livestock to mitigate conflicts while promoting wolf restoration. We assessed predation on livestock, pack establishment, survival, and homing behavior of 88 translocated wolves with radiotelemetry to determine the effectiveness of translocation in our region and consider how it may be improved. More than one-quarter of translocated wolves preyed on livestock after release. Most translocated wolves (67%) never established or joined a pack, although eight new packs resulted from translocations. Translocated wolves had lower annual survival (0.60) than other radio-collared wolves (0.73), with government removal the primary source of mortality. In northwestern Montana, where most wolves have settled in human-populated areas with livestock, survival of translocated wolves was lowest (0.41) and more wolves proportionally failed to establish packs (83%) after release. Annual survival of translocated wolves was highest in central Idaho (0.71) and more wolves proportionally established packs (44%) there than in the other two recovery areas. Translocated wolves showed a strong homing tendency; most of those that failed to home still showed directional movement toward capture sites. Wolves that successfully returned to capture sites were more likely to be adults, hard (immediately) rather than soft (temporarily held in enclosure) released, and translocated shorter distances than other wolves that did not return home. Success of translocations varied and was most affected by the area in which wolves were released. We suggest managers translocating wolves or other large carnivores consider soft releasing individuals (in family groups, if social) when feasible because this may decrease homing behavior and increase release-site fidelity.

Assessing spatiotemporal associations in the occurrence of badger–human conflict in England

“…It has been shown that urban raccoons excluded from breeding dens usually make new dens in nearby man-made structures (O'Donnell and DeNicola 2006). Similarly, carnivores translocated from an area where they have been responsible for livestock predation or other damage problems frequently return to the original area or exhibit similar nuisance behaviour elsewhere (Linnell et al 1997;Bradley et al 2005). Hence, it is important to gather objective evidence on the effectiveness of management strategies in order to avoid potentially damaging and costly outcomes.…”

Diversionary feeding: an effective management strategy for conservation conflict?

“…Where the ethics of culling native predators are questioned (Witmer et al 2000;Ziegltrum 2008), translocation is often considered a humane alternative (Massei et al 2011). Translocation, however, may incur significantly higher costs than culling (Sillero-Zubiri et al 2010) and benefits to prey populations may not be sustained, with the movement of translocated predators back into the area a recurring problem (Bradley et al 2005;Linnell et al 1997). The welfare of translocated animals must also be considered, as translocation programmes often result in high levels stress and mortality in the target individuals (Teixeira et al 2007).…”

Evaluation of a Conflict-Related Brown Hyaena Translocation in Central Namibia

“…N055's premature age probably contributed to this success, as young brown hyaenas usually display submissive behaviours during intraspecific encounters (Mills, 1981;Mills, 1983b), immigrate or become nomadic (Mills, 1982). The animal's extensive and immediate exploratory movements are consistent with post-release behaviour of other large carnivores (see Bradley et al, 2005;Houser et al, 2011;Priatna, Santosal, Prasetyo & Kartono, 2012;Riley, Aune, Mace & Madel, 1994;Ruth, Logan, Sweanor, Hornocker & Temple, 1998;Weilenmann et al, 2010). The hyaena left the target release area and died less than six months post-release, therefore failing to achieve true translocation success.…”