Building partnerships to reduce human-bear conflicts in an agricultural landscape

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Seth Wilson, Blackfoot Challenge ● James J. Jonkel, MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks ● Greg Neudecker, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

HBC Workshop Missoula, MT March 22, 2012

Background

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

THE BLACKFOOT CHALLENGE

State Agencies

Corporations

Conservation Organizations

Non-profit Organizations

Federal Agencies

Private Landowners

Local Business Community

Recreationists

The Blackfoot Challenge... works through

...is a landowner driven group…500 landowners; 160 partners

Communication Collaboration Consensus

Results

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Efficacy of Outreach and HBC Preventative Projects: Reflections on a decade of effort

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Outreach: Initial Steps...a bottom up approach to goal setting

Emphasis

Key Goals to Be Addressed to Improve

Human-bear Coexistence

Less

Difficult

More

Difficult

M

anag

e H

uman

Beh

avio

rs Develop a strategy

Understand “the system” Focus on protecting garbage, grain, livestock, etc. Stop developments in bear habitat “Keep a clean camp” Better communication Truthful communication from wildlife managers Better education Protect human safety Improve cooperation among landowners and wildlife managers

M

anag

e Be

ar N

umbe

rs

and

Beha

vior

s

Know where “problem” bears are Know what population is doing Reduce the population Manage “problem” bears more aggressively Institute a hunting season on bears Have legal right to protect livestock during depredations Improve bear monitoring Increase bear relocation distances

Goal Setting: (bottom up)

Emphasis

Key Goals to Be Addressed to Improve

Human-bear Coexistence

Less

Difficult

More

Difficult

M

anag

e H

uman

Beh

avio

rs Develop a strategy

Understand “the system” Focus on protecting garbage, grain, livestock, etc. Stop developments in bear habitat “Keep a clean camp” Better communication Truthful communication from wildlife managers Better education Protect human safety Improve cooperation among landowners and wildlife managers

M

anag

e Be

ar N

umbe

rs

and

Beha

vior

s

Know where “problem” bears are Know what population is doing Reduce the population Manage “problem” bears more aggressively Institute a hunting season on bears Have legal right to protect livestock during depredations Improve bear monitoring Increase bear relocation distances

Goal Setting: (bottom up)

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Community Supported Goals:

Photo Courtesy: Patti Sowka

Prevent Conflicts

Protect Human Safety

Protect Livelihoods

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Community Supported Goals Reflect: Two Important Characteristics:

1. Emphasis on managing human behaviors

2. Risk Reduction

Influenced the type of projects

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Core Projects: GIS – Risk Analysis

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Core Projects: GIS – Risk Analysis

Producer Knowledge Wildlife Management Data (FWP)

Pasture Use / Beehive locations Reported & Verified Grizzly Bear Observations / Conflicts / GPS & Radio Telemetry Data

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Core Projects: GIS – Risk Analysis

priority site(s) conflict hotspots

Methodology & Analysis: Geo-Spatial Models, Density Surface Mapping, Monte Carlo Simulations, and Expert Opinion (Jonkel, 2005; Wilson et al., 2004; Wilson et al., 2005; Wilson et al., 2006)

Statistical Analysis to Prioritize Projects

Livestock producers and landowners wanted to us to work on the issue and implement PROJECTS

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Core Projects: GIS – Risk Analysis

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Core Projects: Electric Fencing

From 2003-2011

• 20 beehive fences • 16 calving areas fences • 2 composting facilities • 2 transfer site(s) • cost-shared w/ranchers

Core Projects: Portable Electric Fencing

Core Projects: Livestock Carcass Removal

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

No.

Car

cass

es R

emov

ed (B

lack

foot

)

Core Projects: Livestock Carcass Removal

Core Projects: Neighbor Networks

Neighbor Networks

Core Projects: Bear Poles

Core Projects: Outreach/Participation with 1,200 residents/yr.

WL Committee/Coordinator Meeting Log 2005

Rate Per Hour $35 $25 $25 $15 $35 $25 $15 Non-Fed Total In-Kind

Date Meeting

Type Federal (F) State

(S) Local

(L) Landowner

(LO) Corporate

(C) Non-Profit

(NP) Volunteer

(V) Hours In-Kind By Hrly Rate

1/5/2005 One-on-one 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 $

50.00 $ 50.00

1//7/2005 One-on-one 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 $

75.00 $ 180.00

1/10/2005 One-on-one 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 $

25.00 $ 25.00

1/12/2005 One-on-one 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 $ - $ 70.00

1/17/2005 Work Group 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 $ - $ 35.00

1/18/2005 Work Group 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 3 $

330.00 $ 435.00

1/19/2005 Committee 2 1 0 3 1 4 0 3.5 $

717.50 $ 962.50

1/20/2005 One-on-one 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 $

25.00 $ 25.00

1/20/2005 One-on-one 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 $

15.00 $ 15.00

1/26/2005 Committee 3 8 0 8 0 2 0 1.5 $

555.00 $ 712.50

1/26/2005 Work Group 1 1 0 7 0 1 0 3 $

465.00 $ 570.00

1/31/2005 One-on-one 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 $ - $ 35.00

1/31/2005 One-on-one 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 $

15.00 $ 15.00

2/2/2005 One-on-one 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 $

90.00 $ 90.00

2/7/2005 One-on-one 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 $

40.00 $ 75.00

2/7/2005 One-on-one 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 $

30.00 $ 30.00

2/23/2005 Work Group 1 6 0 6 0 1 0 3 $

795.00 $ 900.00

Ave. $45,000 in-kind per year

Results: Grizzly bear conflicts have decreased by 96% from 2003-2010

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

No.

of C

onfli

cts

Data courtesy: MT FWP

Results: Grizzly bear mortality has declined by 80% from 2003-2010

No.

of M

orta

litie

s

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Data courtesy: MT FWP

Grizzly Bear-Wolf Conflict Abatement Strategies – An Update for the USFWS – MT Partners Program – 2-29-12

Dr. Seth M. Wilson Blackfoot Challenge, Wildlife Committee Coordinator Yale University, Visiting Fellow People and Carnivores, Field Director IUCN – Human-Bear Conflict Expert Team Member

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Grizzly bear population is increasing at approx. 3% in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem and observations (verified and unverified, 1990-2011) of grizzlies outside recovery areas have increased (data source: FWP).

Data courtesy: MT FWP

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Preliminary evidence suggests that grizzlies are using the Blackfoot and having few conflicts with people. GPS-based polygons for grizzlies (n =10) from 2004-2010 (data source: FWP).

Dominant land use(s): small-to-mid-sized cow/calf operation, forestry, and recreation

Emerging challenges of grizzlies foraging in cereal/irrigated crops

Increasing ownership, recovery, and sustainability of bear (or carnivore) populations

Form of local involvement

“You’re On your Own”

Tell them how

Do it for them Expert Dependency Model

Show them How technology transfer

Ownership—peer education, stewardship

Outcomes

People eliminate carnivores

Low odds of success; people eliminate carnivores slowly

Program may Be successful—but very expensive, may not be sustainable

May be less expensive and more sustainable

Coexistence becomes part of culture, most sustainable and durable

Concluding thoughts

NRCC

Special thanks to the Blackfoot Challenge and all members of the Wildlife Committee, the Landowner Advisory Group, the Waste Management and Sanitation Work Group, and the Neighbour Network. Thanks to Granite County Headwaters, Granite County Commissioners, Granite Conservation District, Big Hole Watershed Committee, LighHawk (Chris Boyer), Special thanks as well to T. Smith, J. and I. Weaver, J. and C. Coughlin, G. Coughlin, M. McCormick, L. McCormick, T. Murphy, C. McClure, M. Gahan, D. Pruet, W. Slaght, K. Kovatch, R. Burchenal, D. Iverson, R. Cahoon, L. Flemming, B. Mannix, D. Mannix, R. Mannix, B. Rowland, R. Hall, J. Mulcare, D. Weiss, M. Gravely, C. Bauer, V. Edwards, P. Sowka, M. Johnson, T. Radandt, A. Klinefelter, T. Bernd-Cohen, J. Stone, J. Stuzman, H. Johnson, G. Neudecker, K. Ertl, C. Servheen, S. Kloetzel, Carol Kulish, W. Weaver, Barb McNally, R. Allen, G. Foote, and K. Schoendoerfer. Special thanks to Traci Bignell and Gary Burnett for expert administrative support. Special thanks to J.J. Jonkel, C. Sime, A. Dood, L. Bradley, M. Long, J. Kolbe, M. Thompson, and B. Henderson of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for their vision, support, and collaboration. Thanks to B. Friede, P. Basting, C. Helm, and D. Moeller of MT Department of Transportation. Thanks to all of the fencing contractors we’ve worked with over the years and thanks to Dr. J. Waller, Dr. M. Gibeau, Dr. M. Schwartz, Dr. D. Mattson, Dr. L. Boitani, W. Gilgert, C. Sime, and L. Bradley for various scientific and management-related consultations on various scientific aspects of this effort. Thanks to all partners at the NRCS: D. Smith, P. Lauridson, G. Green, J. Bowe, C. Frazer, B. Weltzein, C. Engelhard, J. Blaine, W. Lujan, T. Prince, D. White, W. Gilgert, P. Husby, C. Mosley, E. Suffridge, P. Matthews, M. Harris, R. Nadwornick, L. Metz, and T. Pick. Thanks to our new riders, Peter Brown, G. Smith, T. Smucker, W. Bignell, L. Pocha. Always there when you need him, Jason Wilmot—THANK you. Thanks to Chris Paige for being the “logistics” queen for our event this evening. Thanks to Becky Weed for all the good thinking over the years. We are grateful for the generous financial , cost-share, and technical support from: Allied Waste Services (formerly BFI), Blackfoot Challenge, Brainerd Foundation, Brown Bear Resources, Bunting Family Foundation, Confluence Fund, Chutney Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, Frankenberg Foundation, Great Bear Foundation, Harder Foundation, Living with Wildlife Foundation, MT Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, MT, Department of Transportation, MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative (Thanks Jason Wilmot!), Pumpkin Hill Foundation, Powell County Extension, Private Landowners (Ranchers, Outfitters, Business owners, and Residents), Resource Media, University of Montana, College of Forestry and Conservation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, US Geological Survey, Y2Y / Wilburforce Foundation, and Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

All photographs, data, and maps presented in this talk are either by S. Primm or S. Wilson unless otherwise credited