Study: Killing Predators Does Not Truly Cut Livestock Losses
Killing predators like wolves, mountain lions and bears to protect livestock may appeal to cattle owners, but a new, rigorous review of multiple studies shows little or no scientific support that it actually reduces livestock losses. Sometimes it even leads to increased losses.
This highlights the folly in 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 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 the Center's Michael Robinson. "Our government should ground the aerial snipers, pull the poisons and remove the steel leghold traps in response to these findings."
Read more in our press release.