Dataset:

County-level wolf data for WA, OR, ID, MT

Balancing the interests of conservation with livestock production requires an understanding of the spatial dynamics of risks that threaten both endeavors. Post-doctoral researcher, Leandra Merz assembled data on livestock depredations and lethal control actions (targeting wolves) from four western states (Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho). We complemented this data with several social and ecological indicators at the county level, such as land cover/use and agricultural census. We modeled the social and ecological drivers of lethal removal of wolves finding that state level differences, percent federal land, and livestock predation are significant predictors of lethal removal. However, the relationship between livestock predation and lethal removal varied across all four states. Another component of the intricate balance between conservation aims and livestock production relates to livestock grazing on public lands that are increasingly impacted by carnivore reintroduction as well as other environmental stressors. We compiled a dataset of livestock stocking rates on forest service land from 2001-2021 to analyze how these are impacted by drought and wildfire.