Evaluating Wolf Translocation as a Nonlethal Method to Reduce Livestock Conflicts in the Northwestern United States |
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| Authors: | ELIZABETH H BRADLEY††† DANIEL H PLETSCHER EDWARD E BANGS† KYRAN E KUNKEL‡ DOUGLAS W SMITH§ CURT M MACK THOMAS J MEIER†† JOSEPH A FONTAINE† CARTER C NIEMEYER‡‡ MICHAEL D JIMENEZ§§ |
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| Institution: | Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812-0596, U.S.A.;U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 100 N. Park, Suite 320, Helena, MT 59601, U.S.A.;Turner Endangered Species Fund/University of Montana, 1875 Gateway South, Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730, U.S.A.;National Park Service, Center for Resources, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, U.S.A.;Nez Perce Tribe, 1000 Mission, McCall, ID 83638, U.S.A.;U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, c/o Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, 490 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901, U.S.A.;U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1387 Vinnel Way, Room 368, Boise, ID 83709, U.S.A.;U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 190 N. 1st Street, Lander, WY 82520, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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| Keywords: | Canis lupus depredation livestock relocation translocation |
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