Projects Exploring How Range Riding Can Reduce Livestock-wildlife Conflicts

Two projects funded by Western SARE are exploring the effectiveness of range riders in reducing conflicts between livestock and native predators. Western SARE reports that these efforts are part of a larger initiative to reduce livestock-wildlife conflicts across Montana, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and New Mexico that’s based on compensation for losses; conflict prevention through range riding, carcass management, and fencing; lethal control; and collaboration. Producers across the West are interested in learning how range riders can help reduce both direct livestock losses and indirect losses related to lower body condition scores and higher livestock stress. The article notes that funding for range riding is becoming increasingly available, through NRCS cost-shares and two Regional Conservation Partnership Programs.