Being Better at Prevention: Lessons from Urban Coyotes in Denver and a Wolf-Sheep System in Idaho NWRC Mission Apply scientific expertise to resolve human-wildlife conflicts while maintaining the quality of the environment shared with wildlife Stewart Breck Carnivore Ecologist USDA-Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center

My Background

Conflict on the Rise….

This Can Be Appropriate Want To Minimize Limited Experience Reactive Management of Conflict

“Carnivore Conservation is not just about saving rare species, but also prudently managing abundant ones.” David Macdonald What is Prudent? Realistic Win-Win Situations

Creating Win-Win Scenarios What is Win-Win – Fewer Livestock or Pets Killed by Predators – Less Lethal Control of Predators Argue – Prevention is Key – Understanding and working with AFFECTED Stakeholders is Critical

Fences Fladry Visual Repellents Acoustic Repellents Projectiles Electric Collars Conditioned Taste Aversion Chemical Repellents Sterilization Immuno-contraception Translocation Livestock Guarding Animals Hazing Aggregate Grazing Shepherding Hotspot Avoidance Control of Birthing Night Pens Disposal of Carcasses Reducing Garbage Controlling Pets Education Law Enforcement Fences Our Non-lethal Tool Box Managing PredatorsManaging the Resources

How Full Is Our Tool Box? Our Tool Box is Pretty Full. The bigger problem is that we don’t THOUGHTFULLY use them.

Recommendation# of ranches Avoid handling/contacting wildlife122 Change class of livestock22 Change feeding schedule701 Change time of breeding705 Eliminate wildlife feeding1137 Exclusion/fencing1895 Guarding animals1655 Harassment/hazing1750 Legal harvest341 Herding1111 Husbandry917 Penning/Confinement of livestock717 Relocate livestock/change pastures1330 Shed lambing (calving/birthing)1303 WS recommendations to Stakeholders in Montana 2014

So Why Aren’t Non-Lethal Tools Used More… Use of Non-Lethal Tools Tool Efficacy Carnivore Ecology Economics Attitudes, Beliefs, Perceptions

Denver Metro Area Coyote Study Study Objectives: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Conflict Human Dimensions Management Inventory Survey DMA Coyote Survey Urban Coyote Ecology Link movement and activity to conflict patterns Develop estimate of coyote population in DMA Evaluate food habits of coyote in DMA Urban Coyote Behavior Determine if urban coyotes are bolder/more aggressive than rural coyotes Quantify coyote tolerance of people Urban Coyote Management – Can behavior be suitably altered Test community hazing Test area exclusion hazing (airport study) Develop behavioral profile

Emergence of Urban Coyote Conflict in Denver

Conflict Reports on Dogs and People Prediction 7: More Aggressive Behavior Toward Pets and People

Denver Urban Area U.S. Census Bureau

Are coyotes in the Denver Metro Area bolder or more aggressive? Urban Coyotes Eating People Urban Coyotes Trailing People Emergence of Aggressive Behavior Toward People

Coyote Ecology and Behavior in the Denver Metropolitan Area

Capturing Coyotes April 2012-May 2013 Padded foothold traps and snares TTDs Trap-Alert Measurements and blood draw GPS Collar and ear tags Photo Credit: Jiancarlo Ulloa

Estimate of Coyote Population Size in Denver MeanLower Est.Higher Est. Est. # Packs Est. Pack Size-Winter426 Est. Pack Size-Summer Est. # Residents-Winter ,148 Est. # Residents-Summer ,219 Est. # Transients (15% Adults) Est. Total Coyotes-Winter ,320 Est. Total Coyotes-Summer1, ,391

The Problem: “Wallpaper Effect” One of the factors leading to human-coyote conflict includes human acceptance of or indifference to coyote presence. (Schmidt 2007)

Hypothesize Coyotes Developing Aggressive Behavior Less Aggressive More

Behavioral Thresholds Coyotes attacking Pets Coyotes attacking People Less Aggressive More

Selection Pressures in Urban Areas Coyotes attacking People Less Aggressive More

Coyotes have become Bolder and More Aggressive Toward People and Pets in Denver Result of Humans Becoming Less Relevant to Coyotes Take Home Points

Questions What is Prudent Management of Urban Coyotes? How Do We Use Non-Lethal Strategies To Reduce Problems

Hazing to Help People and Coyotes Using coyote hazing at the community level to change behavior and reduce human- coyote conflict in urban environments

Can we get the public to haze coyotes and does this help?

Challenges: on the coyote side Are coyotes too smart for aversive conditioning? Do coyotes figure out who is doing the hazing and who is not? Can hazing have a lasting, community-wide effect? Should it be seen more as a personal safety tool?

Challenges: on the human side People hate the word, “Hazing is a pretentious and confusing word to use.” People don’t want to haze or they want someone else to do the hazing for them, “I am uncomfortable with yelling and clapping my hands out loud in public.” What if not everyone is willing to haze? Hazing impacts are difficult to isolate and measure for research purposes.

Study Design Treatment and Control (bias toward treatments) Hazing sites Pre-treatment (Reporting signs) Treatment (Hazing signs) Post-treatment (Reporting signs) Control Sites Pre-treatment (Reporting signs) No signs Post-treatment (Reporting signs)

Study Methods – Hazing Treatment

Study Methods - Hazing Education Hazing tips on signs Access to an educational video: “How to Haze a Coyote”

Study Results-Coyote Side No Measureable Affect On Coyote Behavior At 2 of 3 Treatment Sites, Coyotes Were Lethally Removed within 1 Month

Study Results-Human Side

Attitudes, Beliefs, Perceptions What the hell? This is ABSURD AND CRUEL!!! I am sending a notice to PETA and all local animal rights groups immediately, in hopes that you will CEASE AND DESIST this inhumane experiment.

Attitudes, Beliefs, Perceptions The majority of dog owners that I have seen use the park are morons. Countless owners take their dog up to "play" with the coyotes... Can you put up signs encouraging people to haze the stupid dog owners as well?

Attitudes, Beliefs, Perceptions Conspiracy Theory First Jefferson County wanted to pave the park over to provide “Children Play Spaces”. Now you want us to harass wildlife. NO. Again, NO. Leave the park and its environment alone. Next step, impeach this board.

Take Home From Denver Study What is Prudent Management of Urban Coyotes? – Lethal Removal of Bad Actors – Education of Public is Essential How Do We Use Non-Lethal Strategies To Reduce Problems? – Must Implement Before Problems Start – Long-term Effort – Affected Stakeholders Must be Willing to Help

Wolf and Sheep in Idaho Wood River Project Conceived by WS Run by Defenders Involved 4 Sheep Producers Sheparding 24/7 Modern Non-Lethal Tools Education

Wood River Project in Idaho

After accounting for the number of “Sheep Days” the unprotected area had a

Wood River Results Reduced sheep losses to wolves No wolves were killed in protected area Initially the effort was very intense Over time producers figured things out Having the producers willing to participate was huge Having an NGO willing to fund effort was huge

Conclusions Goal is To Reduce Lethal Control – Sue and Be Divisive OR – Work Together and Help Affected Stakeholders WS can be better at catalyzing these efforts NGO’s can assist with energy and funding Affected Stakeholders must embrace efforts – Can we create Long-term incentives?