2020 Sees Record Number of Conflict Prevention Projects in Montana

This past year, an unlikely partnership greatly expanded the number of human-wildlife conflict reduction projects taking place across Montana. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services (USDA WS)–Montana, Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Montana Livestock Loss Board helped implement 68 projects in the state, while also demonstrating a successful model for collaborative conflict reduction programs. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic imposing restrictions across the country, the projects completed through this partnership more than doubled over the prior year-end total. 

“These projects have already made a significant impact in reducing conflicts between wildlife and people,” said Russ Talmo, Rockies and Plains program associate at Defenders of Wildlife. “By partnering with diverse groups, we are achieving far more than any of us could accomplish on our own.” 

Since 2018, the partners have worked together to protect rural livelihoods while also benefiting Montana’s wildlife, including bears and wolves. The growth of this program over the last year is thanks in part to a first of its kind, $1.38 million allocation for nonlethal predator damage management included in the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bill that funds federal agencies. Defenders of Wildlife, NRDC, and several livestock organizations advocated for Congress to provide this funding, which expanded livestock-carnivore conflict prevention efforts across multiple states. USDA WS—Montana, which received a portion of the appropriated funds, successfully increased the geographic scope of projects, number of conflict prevention personnel, and resources available to producers in the state.

“2020 was a great year for conflict prevention thanks to this collaborative effort,” said John Steuber, Montana State Director for USDA WS. “We were able to significantly increase the number of projects we completed, protecting both livestock and predators.”

“This work is about finding common ground and building new capacity to get out ahead of conflicts,” said Jennifer Sherry, wildlife advocate for NRDC. “We are helping bears, wolves and other wildlife navigate an increasingly complex landscape, while reducing the threats they can pose to people’s livelihoods.”

In 2020, the partnership’s projects took place in every corner of Montana. The projects primarily involved constructing electric fences to deter black and grizzly bears from calving pastures, pig pens, chicken coops and other attractants, but also included range riding and turbo fladry to deter wolf depredations. The participating groups contributed funding, personnel time, equipment, and materials for these projects, while also bringing new partners to the table. The benefits of this work are readily apparent, with zero breaches or depredations by carnivores occurring at any of the fladry and electric fence installation sites. 

“We are appreciative of the work this coalition did by building electric fences on the Blackfeet Reservation to keep grizzly bears out of trouble and to protect our livestock from predation,” said Joe Kipp, Blackfeet Tribal member and rancher from Browning, MT.

Wildlife populations are continuing to expand into their historic ranges, which can increase the potential for human-wildlife interactions. As the demand and support for conflict reduction projects and tools continues to grow, the demonstrated success of this collaborative, non-lethal approach serves as a model for other states experiencing similar conditions. 

In the final days of 2020, Congress passed its Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations bill, which renews the $1.38-million commitment to USDA WS’s non-lethal conflict prevention work. The partners in this effort will continue to work together in Montana this year and welcome support and interest from new stakeholders across the state.

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Additional Contacts: 
John Steuber, Wildlife Services-Montana, john.e.steuber@usda.gov 
Daniela Arellano, NRDC, 424-268-6677, darellano@nrdc.org 
George Edwards, Montana Livestock Loss Board, 406-444-5609, gedwards@mt.gov 
 

The mission of USDA APHIS Wildlife Services is to provide leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts to allow people and wildlife to coexist. We help partners resolve wildlife damage and conflicts through integrated wildlife damage management operations, research and information. Contact 1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297), www.usda.aphis.gov/wildlife-damage 

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Chicago; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC