Managing wolf-livestock conflict on national forests in the Western United States

Abstract

Since the reintroduction of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the Northern Rocky Mountain region of the Western United States in the mid-1990s, wolves have spread to occupy suitable habitat in several Western states, most notably Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and recently California. Much of this suitable habitat is on federal lands, including those managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. The Forest Service manages lands for multiple uses, including grazing, and many national forests in these states now harbor both wolf and livestock populations for at least part of the year. Where wolves and livestock overlap, negative interactions can result, including stress and predation on livestock (affecting the livelihoods of producers), and lethal removal of wolves in response. These interactions create social conflict among livestock producers, wolf advocates, and other stakeholders over how wolves and livestock ought to be managed to promote coexistence on federal lands. Between 2020 and 2022, we investigated how national forest managers on six national forests located in the six states noted above have addressed wolf-livestock conflict. This report presents the results of our research, providing in-depth case studies of wolf-livestock management on six national forests, drawing mainly on data from semi-structured interviews with managers and other stakeholders. We contextualize our findings within the context of wolf management policy in each state as well as the larger landscape of wolf-livestock conflict in the American West. We also provide a cross-case comparison, identifying common themes, insights, and lessons learned, as well as management implications from which managers on national forests, working with both wolves and livestock, may benefit.

Citation

Martin, Jeff Vance; Anderson, Robert M.; Epstein, Kathleen; Charnley, Susan. 2025. Managing wolf-livestock conflict on national forests in the Western United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-1029. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 153 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/pnw-gtr-1029.