Large Carnivores

Abstract

AbstractFollowing historical efforts to eradicate them, large carnivores including gray wolves (Canis lupus), mountain lions (Puma concolor), black bears (Ursus americanus), and grizzly bears (U. arctos), have demonstrated an ability to recover across rangeland habitats in western North America during the last 50 years. While former distributions of these species were greatly reduced by the early-1960s, all are exhibiting range expansion and population increase across much (e.g., mountain lion and black bear) or portions (e.g., wolf and grizzly bear) of their historical range. This recovery of large carnivores in western landscapes has led to increased conflict with humans and a greater need for science-based management strategies by agencies with statutory responsibility for wildlife conservation. As conflict potential with large carnivores has increased, so have proactive and reactive conflict management programs for those impacted by large carnivores. Imperative to any successful large carnivore conflict mitigation is a focused outreach and education program for those who live, work, and recreate in habitats where wolves, mountain lions, and bears occur. Managers are continually evaluating the challenges and realities of intact large carnivore guilds within rangeland settings. Research and monitoring furthers our understanding and efficacy of management strategies for large carnivores now and into the future, striving to build on knowledge regarding the intricacies of population dynamics among predators and prey, including domestic species and humans.