We welcomed Rosie Costain of People and Carnivores, a Montana-based nonprofit. This nonprofit works with landowners, tribes, community groups, agencies and local governments across the Northern Rockies to develop and implement on-the-ground solutions that keep people and property safe while allowing wolves, bears, and mountain lions to move, expanding their ranges and connecting with other populations.
Living with wolves takes work, but it can be done. In Montana and other western states, wolves share space with cows, sheep, and other livestock. When wolves kill livestock, they’re often killed in response. To minimize losses to both livestock and wolf populations, programs geared toward the needs of landowners and agricultural producers, and using conflict prevention tools effectively, can go a long way.
People and Carnivores prevents conflicts between wolves and livestock by working with landowners to (1) help them use practices that protect livestock or remove risks, and (2) put tools on the ground that keep wolves separated from livestock. By protecting people and their property, wolves can move and find natural food sources.
In this talk, learn about the key features of a human-wolf conflict prevention program and the tools and methods People and Carnivores uses, like installing fladry and other fencing, carcass management, livestock guardian dogs, and—most importantly—building relationships with landowners and communities.
About Our Speaker: Rosie Costain
Before landing in the world of large carnivore conflict prevention, Rosie studied journalism and environmental studies at the University of Montana, and received an M.S. in collaborative conservation from Colorado State University, focusing on endangered raptors and efforts to reintroduce them in Bulgaria. At People and Carnivores, she gets the word out about what field staff are doing to get conflict prevention tools and the ground, and she coordinates programs like the Bear Smart Community Resource Program, which supports towns in reducing their human-bear conflicts. She lives in Helena, MT.