Carnivores and Communities: A Case Study of Human-Carnivore Conflict Mitigation in Southwestern Alberta
In 2018, the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association used an online survey to evaluate the effectiveness of the CACP directly from the program participants’ perspectives and experiences. The survey was organized into the following sections: demographics, general awareness and motivation to participate, safety risks and sense of security associated with large carnivores, assessment of attractant management and deadstock removal programming, and communications and future direction.
We evaluated the CACP’s bear safety workshops, deadstock removal program, and attractant management projects by collecting survey data on participants’ perspectives of the CACP’s effectiveness relative to reducing economic costs and human safety risks and completing an analysis of carnivore conflict data.
The results of our collaborative research clearly show that the CACP is having a positive impact and making progress towards reducing conflicts between people and large carnivores. We believe the CACP’s work provides a successful example of a community-based program that helps people and large carnivores better coexist on the landscape.
The full story can be found in the published paper here.
The WBRA aims to support healthy landscapes and the people who live and work here.
The Carnivores and Communities Program helps livestock producers lessen the impacts of large carnivores on their operations. This includes a Deadstock Removal Program and financial support for projects like grain bin upgrades and electric fences. Please visit our CACP webpage for more information on these cost-sharing initiatives.
To stay up to date on all of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association’s upcoming programs and events be sure to visit us here on our website, Like and Follow our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
