Low-stress livestock handling protects cattle in a five-predator habitat

Abstract

Given the ecological importance of top predators, societies are turning to non-lethal methods for coexistence. Coexistence is challenging when livestock graze within wild predator habitats. We report a randomized, controlled experiment to evaluate low-stress livestock handling (L-SLH), a form of range riding, to deter grizzly (brown) bears, gray wolves, cougars, black bears, and coyotes in Southwestern Alberta. The treatment condition was supervision by two newly hired and trained range riders and an experienced L-SLH-practicing range rider. This treatment was compared against a baseline pseudo-control condition of the experienced range rider working alone. Cattle experienced zero injuries or deaths in either condition. We infer that inexperienced range riders trained and supervised by an experienced rider did not raise or lower the risk to cattle. Also, predators did not shift to the cattle herds protected by fewer range riders. We found a correlation suggesting grizzly bears avoided herds visited more frequently by range riders practicing L-SLH. More research is required to compare different forms of range riding. However, pending experimental evaluation of other designs, we recommend use of L-SLH. We discuss the cobenefits of this husbandry method.

Keywords: Carnivores; Human-Carnivore Coexistence; Livestock-Carnivore Conflict; Non-lethal methods; Predator control; Randomized controlled trials.

Figure 1. A conceptual diagram of the primary elements of low-stress livestock handling.

The major elements of L-SLH are how cattle are moved (Drive), how they are stopped and placed in new pastures (Settle), how they are handled while within pastures or prepared to move out of pastures (Gather), and how cattle are corralled and prepared to be moved to new facilities or sent to feed lots (Corral).

Figure 2. Study area map of the Spruce Ranching Co-op.

Extent map of the Spruce Ranching Co-op, located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Southwestern Alberta, Canada. Protected areas refers to areas designated either by the Canadian federal government or the Alberta provincial government as protected. Base map source: Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta, 2021.

Figure 3. Standardized large carnivore presence by treatment condition, phase and species.

Large carnivore (LC) presence standardized to include trail camera and sign survey data by carnivore species, phase (1 or 2) and treatment condition (PC, pseudo-control; T, treatment). All LC i.e. Pooled LC represents the summed presence of all species.

Figure 4. Images of predators captured by trail cameras positioned within pastures with study herds.

(A) Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) (B) Black bear (Ursus americanus) (C) Coyote (Canis latrans) (D) Wolf (Canis lupus) (E) Cougar (Puma concolor).