How to Practice Coexistence: Resources for Farmers, Ranchers and Producers
Note: these resources are particularly useful for livestock enterprises. While some may be focused on the North America context, they can be applied in other regions as well.
Producers committed to coexistence use a mix of practices to succeed. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to living with wildlife. Rather, by observing area wildlife and varying practices to fit changing conditions, a wide range of producers have innovated means that work in their environs. Scroll down for resources on:
Increasing on-farm Biodiversity
This brief from the Land Tenure Center, “Balancing the Needs of People and Wildlife,” draws from experience on three continents to outline recent advances in understanding and managing human-wildlife conflicts, with twin objectives of biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation. Balancing Needs (346kb)
The Wild Farm Alliance has produced a number of excellent publications for farmers and producers looking to increase biodiversity on their farms and ranches. These publications discuss wildlife friendly fencing options and other best practices as well as promoting the philosophy of predator friendly farming and ranching. An excellent introduction to biodiversity is Biodiversity: What is it and how to increase it on your farm (2010). Visit their website for more publications and download “Biodiversity Conservation: An Organic Farmer’s Guide” (1.8 mb)
Widely-applicable across the US, this Wisconsin Wildlife Primer (from the WI Dept of Natural Resources) describes the ecological role played by common mammals and how settlement and farming over time have affected habitat and connectivity. It also contains information about introduced exotic wildlife species and is a good overview of wildlife ecology and the history of wildlife management.
The Bear Smart website provides a good introduction to the concept of ‘keystone’ and ‘umbrella’ species and why conserving healthy habitat for predators is also good for humans.
Living with Predators
Damage Prevention
Carnivore Damage Prevention news is a helpful newsletter resource that provides detailed information on strategies to coexist with carnivores around the world.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has an excellent Living with Wildlife series that explains the instincts and requirements of many species from elk to beavers to skunks and includes detailed conflict prevention and fencing recommendations.
Bears
Living with Bears (WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife)
Bears of the World (International Association for Bear Research & Management, IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group)
Bobcats
Living with Bobcats (WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife)
Cougars
Living with Cougars (WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife)
Coyotes
Living with Coyotes (WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife)
Nonlethal Solutions to Reduce Conflicts: Helping Livestock and Predators Coexist (Project Coyote)
Wolves
Wolves on the Landscape: A Hands-on Resource Guide to Reduce Depredations (Lance, N., Primm S. and K. Inman
Non-lethal measures to minimize wolf-livestock conflict (Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife)
Livestock and Wolves: A Guide to Non-lethal Tools and Methods to Reduce Conflicts (Defenders of Wildlife)
Herd Management and Livestock Husbandry
Herd management practices are an integral component of proactive coexistence planning. Successful predator deterrence often requires a mix of activities to ensure that local wildlife remain wary of approaching domestic animals. Where predators have good cover and a ready means of retreat, they may be more willing to expose themselves to novel situations. By becoming familiar with the habits and requirements of area wildlife, producers can gauge appropriate management options.
Heightened vigilance and application of a mix of practices are especially important when animals are most vulnerable. Therefore, the timing and location of lambing and calving are important considerations. When native prey are abundant and domestic animals are hard to access, predators are less likely to expose themselves to risk. Calving and lambing in secure areas—from barns to fenced lots—is optimal. Other options include lighting, the use of visual deterrents such as flagging (fladry), unaccustomed sounds and human presence.
Predators can become comfortable with the routine of a farm. Varying approaches to pastures, changing where and when people are present, and employing differing means of transportation can help to avoid predictability. Grazing larger stock together with smaller animals can deter predators. Further, varying pasture rotations to keep small and vulnerable stock away from potentially difficult locations is a sound option, where practicable. Predators are often most active from dusk to dawn; practices designed to target this period may be especially effective.
While no mix of husbandry practices is predator-proof, producers who make coexistence an integral part of herd management tend to reduce losses. Attention to natural cycles and an understanding of the environment on and surrounding their operations are hallmarks of producers who experience success. Further, record-keeping of livestock locations and losses helps one to pay prompt attention to predator problems and reveals any pattern that may exist. Reducing and eliminating attractant sources—by disposing of livestock carcasses, for example, and by making stock hard to reach—is a long-term approach to raising livestock with respect for the wild.
Predator Control for Sustainable and Organic Livestock Production (ATTRA)
Fencing
Whether in the East or West, raising horses, sheep or cattle, these fencing guides have important tips on how to keep stock in and maintain passage for deer, ground-nesting birds and a host of other species.
Fencing with Wildlife In Mind (Colorado Division of Wildlife)
A Landowner’s Guide to Wildlife Friendly Fences: How to Build Fence with Wildlife in Mind (Paige, C., 2012, WY Land Trust, Pinedale, WY)
A Landowner’s Guide to Wildlife Friendly Fences: How to Build Fence with Wildlife in Mind (Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks)
Livestock Guardian Animals
Livestock guardian animals are relatively new to the U.S., but have been used for centuries in Europe and Asia. Guardian dogs, llamas and donkeys can be incorporated with other management tools for a well-grounded approach to predator deterrence. The success of each species as a guardian depends upon a number of factors including the type, scale and location of a domestic operation. Further, individual temperament may be the true determiner of an effective livestock guardian. In all cases, livestock guardian animals require care by herd owners, and attention to their interaction with surroundings to perform effectively.
Dogs, llamas, and donkeys differ in their relation to herds and response to predators. Donkeys appear to have an innate dislike of dogs, coyotes and foxes and are often aggressive to intruders. Llamas are also wary of members of the canid (dog) family and protective of their flock and territory. Livestock guardian dogs can be effective in a wide range of situations; they are often used in extensive operations and where bears and mountain lions are a potential threat. Selection of an appropriate livestock guardian depends upon multiple factors. The care and management of each species, along with herd environment, are important considerations in choosing a guardian.
Livestock guardian animals are relatively new to the U.S., but have been used for centuries in Europe and Asia. Guardian dogs, llamas and donkeys can be incorporated with other management tools for a well-grounded approach to predator deterrence. The success of each species as a guardian depends upon a number of factors including the type, scale and location of a domestic operation. Further, individual temperament may be the true determiner of an effective livestock guardian. In all cases, livestock guardian animals require care by herd owners, and attention to their interaction with surroundings to perform effectively.
Choosing a Livestock Guardian Animal: A Comparison of Llamas, Donkeys and Dogs Using Guard Animals to Protect Livestock (Missouri Department of Conservation)
Choosing a Guard Animal (California Department of Food and Agriculture)
Livestock Guardian Dogs Livestock Guarding Dogs Factsheet (USDA-APHIS)
Free Archived Webinar Series on Livestock Guardian Dogs with Jan Dohner
Livestock Guardian Dog expert Jan Dohner’s website
Raising and Training a Livestock Guarding Dog (Oregon State University)
Livestock Guardian Dogs: Protecting Sheep from Predators (USDA-APHIS)
Livestock Guarding Dogs: Their Current Use Worldwide (Canid Specialist Group)
Livestock Guardian Llamas
Guard Llamas (Iowa State University)
Guard Llama Guidelines (International Llama Association)
Livestock Guardian Donkeys and Mules
Using Donkeys to Guard Sheep and Goats (Texas Department of Agriculture)
Guidelines for Using Donkeys as Guard Animals with Sheep (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)
Protecting Livestock with Guard Donkeys (Alberta Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Backyard Chickens and Rabbits
Backyard livestock are increasing as part of the growing local food movement. Good management practices are essential to living with respect for wildlife. One Acre Farm, of Bolton, Massachusetts, protects its backyard chickens and rabbits, using:
- Tight housing to deny entry even to weasels.
- Runs made from 1⁄2”, PVC-coated hardware cloth, buried at least 18” underground.
- Electric fencing around structures.
- Free-ranging only when people are present
- Chickens trained to return to the coop when called.
Free Range Flock Protection
Protecting Heritage Turkeys from Predators (American Livestock Breeds Conservancy)
Predators of Poultry (Ohio State University Extension)
Urban Flock Protection
An Easy Checklist for Safeguarding Your Chickens (Associated Content)
Funding for Coexistence Practices
The USDA/NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) , and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), provide technical assistance and significant cost-share assistance to improve habitat and engage in stewardship practices. For more information, contact your local NRCS office.
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides technical assistance and funding to help restore and enhance habitats on private lands for threatened and endangered species and migratory birds including waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, neo-tropical songbirds.