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The Center for Biological Diversity reports via Common Dreams
Killing predators such as wolves, mountain lions and bears in order to protect livestock may have intuitive appeal, but a rigorous review of multiple studies that was published today shows little or no scientific support that it actually reduces livestock losses. In fact, in some cases it even leads to increases in livestock loss. These conclusions directly counter the reasoning behind the common practice of killing predators in response to livestock depredations--as carried out by the secretive federal program, Wildlife Services, and many state game agencies.
"This study [paywalled] shows that not only is Wildlife Services' annual killing of tens of thousands of wolves, coyotes, bears, bobcats, cougars, and other animals unconscionable--it's also ineffective", said Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity. "Our government should ground the aerial snipers, pull the poisons and remove the steel leghold traps in response to these findings."
The unexpected finding that carnivore killings can increase depredations is likely based on disruption of the predators' social dynamics--namely, by removing dominant animals that maintain large territories, these killings release sub-adult animals that are less-skilled hunters and thus more likely to target domestic animals.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 04 2016, @05:14PM
This only applies to ranges, not farms.
Confined, rotation grazing has the same effects, no predators needed.
The supposed benefit of large predators is that they keep mesopredators under control, but even that can change with a single hard season, a changing of the guard, or simply a change in tastes.
It's not an effect that can be relied upon, and when it goes bad, people go broke. Or build CAFOs. Or both.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday September 04 2016, @08:17PM
Apparently it makes more effective use of the land than rotational grazing even. No actual predators needed, mind you. The same has be done by simply riding out every day and annoying the herd until they decide it's time to move along.
It is, however, an effect that can be relied upon unless you allow overpopulation of the predators to occur. The losses to the herd from a small but present predator population are going to be less than calf mortality without predators. Absent any predator population, cattle at least do not stay together and keep as close an eye on their young. This is a bad thing. Young animals are every bit as stupid and suicidal as young humans when left without oversight.
If you're really worried about predation of your herd though, run a jack and jenny pair in with them. They will stomp anything short of a bear's ass into the ground if it gets near the herd and you still get all the benefits of your herd animals actually behaving like herd animals.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by jasassin on Monday September 05 2016, @07:41PM
Forgive my ignorance. What is a Jack and Jenny pair?
jasassin@gmail.com GPG Key ID: 0xE6462C68A9A3DB5A
(Score: 3, Informative) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday September 05 2016, @08:04PM
Donkeys. A male (jack. the origin of jackass. jennyass apparently just didn't catch on.) and a female (jenny). Old rancher's trick to run them with the herd if you have coyotes or what not around because they will stomp most predators into a bloody spot in the ground if they even get close.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.