Ranchers' Perspectives on Participating in Non-lethal Wolf-Livestock Coexistence Strategies
Potential impacts to rural livelihoods by large carnivores, such as gray wolves (Canis lupus), increase economic liability and fear among residents, resulting in social conflicts over wildlife issues. Strategies have been developed to promote non-lethal predator management in rural communities, but...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2021.683732/full |
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| author | Carol Bogezi Lily M. van Eeden Lily M. van Eeden Aaron J. Wirsing John M. Marzluff |
| author_facet | Carol Bogezi Lily M. van Eeden Lily M. van Eeden Aaron J. Wirsing John M. Marzluff |
| author_sort | Carol Bogezi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Potential impacts to rural livelihoods by large carnivores, such as gray wolves (Canis lupus), increase economic liability and fear among residents, resulting in social conflicts over wildlife issues. Strategies have been developed to promote non-lethal predator management in rural communities, but there is limited understanding of why ranchers choose to participate in such programs. We conducted semi-structured interviews (n = 45) of ranchers in Washington state, United States, asking open-ended questions to explore their perspectives on conflict mitigation. Interviews were analyzed using Grounded Theory. Ranchers mentioned five broad types of mitigation strategies: state agency intervention (i.e., calling the state agency in charge of wolf management to request either compensation or lethal wolf removal), biological measures (e.g., use of guard animals), physical measures (e.g., fences), human interference (cowboys and cowgirls), and indirect measures (e.g., husbandry practices). Motivations for participating in non-lethal mitigation strategies included previous positive interactions with wildlife agency officials, an understanding of the importance of wolves to the ecosystem, and clearly outlined guidelines on how to deal with wolf interactions. Barriers that hindered rancher participation included disdain for regulation both regarding the Endangered Species Act and the state's requirements for accessing damage compensation, which were perceived to be extensive and over-reaching. Negative attitudes toward wolf recovery included fear of wolves and perceived damage that wolves inflict on rural lives and livelihoods. Ranchers' motivations and perceived barriers for participating in mitigation strategies included sociopolitical and economic factors. Thus, we suggest that in addition to mitigating economic loss, wildlife managers address the intangible social costs that deter ranchers' participation in mitigation strategies through continued dialogue. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:22:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99eef5c8a853421bbe0fa1dec38ee26c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-611X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:22:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-99eef5c8a853421bbe0fa1dec38ee26c2022-12-21T20:03:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Conservation Science2673-611X2021-10-01210.3389/fcosc.2021.683732683732Ranchers' Perspectives on Participating in Non-lethal Wolf-Livestock Coexistence StrategiesCarol Bogezi0Lily M. van Eeden1Lily M. van Eeden2Aaron J. Wirsing3John M. Marzluff4School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesSchool of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesSchool of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesSchool of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesPotential impacts to rural livelihoods by large carnivores, such as gray wolves (Canis lupus), increase economic liability and fear among residents, resulting in social conflicts over wildlife issues. Strategies have been developed to promote non-lethal predator management in rural communities, but there is limited understanding of why ranchers choose to participate in such programs. We conducted semi-structured interviews (n = 45) of ranchers in Washington state, United States, asking open-ended questions to explore their perspectives on conflict mitigation. Interviews were analyzed using Grounded Theory. Ranchers mentioned five broad types of mitigation strategies: state agency intervention (i.e., calling the state agency in charge of wolf management to request either compensation or lethal wolf removal), biological measures (e.g., use of guard animals), physical measures (e.g., fences), human interference (cowboys and cowgirls), and indirect measures (e.g., husbandry practices). Motivations for participating in non-lethal mitigation strategies included previous positive interactions with wildlife agency officials, an understanding of the importance of wolves to the ecosystem, and clearly outlined guidelines on how to deal with wolf interactions. Barriers that hindered rancher participation included disdain for regulation both regarding the Endangered Species Act and the state's requirements for accessing damage compensation, which were perceived to be extensive and over-reaching. Negative attitudes toward wolf recovery included fear of wolves and perceived damage that wolves inflict on rural lives and livelihoods. Ranchers' motivations and perceived barriers for participating in mitigation strategies included sociopolitical and economic factors. Thus, we suggest that in addition to mitigating economic loss, wildlife managers address the intangible social costs that deter ranchers' participation in mitigation strategies through continued dialogue.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2021.683732/fullwildlife coexistenceconservation social scienceCanis lupusnon-lethal strategiesranchingcarnivores |
| spellingShingle | Carol Bogezi Lily M. van Eeden Lily M. van Eeden Aaron J. Wirsing John M. Marzluff Ranchers' Perspectives on Participating in Non-lethal Wolf-Livestock Coexistence Strategies Frontiers in Conservation Science wildlife coexistence conservation social science Canis lupus non-lethal strategies ranching carnivores |
| title | Ranchers' Perspectives on Participating in Non-lethal Wolf-Livestock Coexistence Strategies |
| title_full | Ranchers' Perspectives on Participating in Non-lethal Wolf-Livestock Coexistence Strategies |
| title_fullStr | Ranchers' Perspectives on Participating in Non-lethal Wolf-Livestock Coexistence Strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ranchers' Perspectives on Participating in Non-lethal Wolf-Livestock Coexistence Strategies |
| title_short | Ranchers' Perspectives on Participating in Non-lethal Wolf-Livestock Coexistence Strategies |
| title_sort | ranchers perspectives on participating in non lethal wolf livestock coexistence strategies |
| topic | wildlife coexistence conservation social science Canis lupus non-lethal strategies ranching carnivores |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2021.683732/full |
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