Assessing trends in wolf impact on livestock through verified claims in historical vs. recent areas of occurrence in Italy

Gervasi, Vincenzo; Salvatori, Valéria; Catullo, Gianluca; Ciucci, Paolo

doi:10.1007/s10344-021-01522-1

Cited by 12 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In line with patterns of predation on livestock by wolves in Europe (e.g. Ciucci and Boitani, 1998;Gula, 2008;Iliopoulos et al, 2009;Gervasi et al, 2021a;Gervasi et al, 2021b), sheep were the most frequently reported livestock category preyed upon by wolves in Brandenburg (Figure 3A). We assume that this is due to their relatively high availability in the agricultural landscape (Khorozyan and Heurich, 2022).…”

Section: Livestock Species As Preysupporting

confidence: 67%

“…Compensation schemes for damages related to predation by carnivores, although heavily debated (Nyhus et al, 2003;Bulte and Rondeau, 2005), are a central instrument for facilitating the persistence of large carnivores in landscapes shared among people, livestock and wildlife (Dickman et al, 2011). In central Europe, compensation payments typically depend on an independent assessment by trained assessors to confirm wolf predation as mortality cause (Iliopoulos et al, 2009;Gervasi et al, 2021b). Despite substantial forensic efforts, the exact mortality cause could not always be established (NP=17%), especially among cattle and other livestock species.…”

Section: Monitoring Data and Compensation For Livestock Lossesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While such relationships between wolf recolonization and predation on livestock could be expected, we caution against generalizing this correlation. For example, Italian regions recently recolonized by wolves had lower rates of predation on livestock compared to areas with long-established wolf populations (Gervasi et al, 2021b). More detailed studies aimed at identifying the social status of wolves (i.e.…”

Section: Temporal Dynamics Of Livestock Predation By Wolvesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The recovery of large carnivore populations in cultural landscapes of Europe is a remarkable wildlife conservation success story (Chapron et al, 2014;Cimatti et al, 2021), and yet presents daunting challenges for human-carnivore coexistence in agricultural landscapes (Nyhus, 2016;Pimenta et al, 2018;König et al, 2020;Linnell et al, 2020;Pettersson et al, 2021). Predation on livestock by large carnivores such as grey wolves (Canis lupus; hereafter: wolf/ wolves) represents a persistent problem both in areas recently recolonized by wolves and in those with well-established wolf populations (Ciucci and Boitani, 1998;Kaczensky, 1999;Gula, 2008;Gervasi et al, 2021a;Gervasi et al, 2021b;Fedyńet al, 2022;Khorozyan and Heurich, 2022). Predation on livestock can perpetuate or even aggravate the already predominantly negative attitudes towards wolves among parts of society (Dressel et al, 2015;Jürgens and Hacket, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany

Kiffner¹,

Uthes²,

Ostermann‐Miyashita³

et al. 2022

Front. Conserv. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Predation on livestock presents a daunting challenge for human–carnivore coexistence in agricultural landscapes. In Germany, the recolonization of wolves is ongoing and its consequences are insufficiently understood. Knowledge about which livestock species are susceptible to wolf predation, which farm types are predisposed to attacks by wolves, and when predation on livestock occurs is valuable for mitigating stakeholder conflicts. To this end, we analyzed 14 years of monitoring data and assessed the livestock prey spectrum, identified correlates between predation on livestock, farm type and livestock category, and described temporal patterns of livestock loss caused by a recolonizing wolf population in the state of Brandenburg (Germany). Among a total of 1387 recorded cases, 42% were unequivocally attributed to wolves (SCALP criteria C1 and C2) and 12% of cases were not caused by wolves. The number of head of livestock killed during a single wolf attack was mediated by farm type and livestock species; losses per event were greater in full-time farms vs. other farm types and greater in sheep, farmed deer and other livestock species, compared to cattle. While sheep were the most commonly killed livestock species, the increase in wolf territories over the investigation period was associated with a widening of the domestic prey species spectrum. Count regression models provided evidence for the increasing frequency of predation events over the 14-year period, along with an exponential increase in wolf territories. Predation on livestock occurred throughout the year, yet seasonality of events was evident and differed across livestock categories. Predation on sheep peaked in the fall, coinciding with the post-weaning period of wolf offspring. Predation on cattle peaked in the spring, coinciding with the cattle calving period. These results call for renewed investment in the implementation of prevention methods for all susceptible domestic species, particularly during times of elevated predation risk.

show abstract

Section: Livestock Species As Preysupporting

confidence: 67%

Section: Monitoring Data and Compensation For Livestock Lossesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Temporal Dynamics Of Livestock Predation By Wolvesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany

Kiffner¹,

Uthes²,

Ostermann‐Miyashita³

et al. 2022

Front. Conserv. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The wolf ( Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most studied carnivores [ 1 ] because of its conservation value; its umbrella ecological functions [ 2 ]; and, recently, its negative interactions with human activities. Although predators are decreasing worldwide [ 3 ], the wolf in Europe recolonized many parts of their former range, leading to increased conflicts with anthropic interests [ 4 , 5 , 6 ], particularly with livestock farmers [ 7 , 8 ]. The wolf demographic and distributive expansion increases, as well as the opportunities of contact with free ranging dogs, imposing attention to the hybridization risk [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does the Wolf (Canis lupus) Exhibit Human Habituation Behaviours after Rehabilitation and Release into the Wild? A Case Report from Central Italy

Viola

Girotti

Adriani

et al. 2022

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The knowledge of how wolves’ movement patterns and habitat selection are affected by habituation to persons after a period of veterinary isolation, treatment and non-agonistic experience with humans is scarce. Unnatural behaviours could be transferred by imitation to members of the pack and to subsequent generations, increasing direct interaction risks. We used GPS data from a rescued radio-collared female wolf after an 11-day rehabilitation to estimate home range, movement patterns, circadian rhythms, and habitat selection, searching for signals of eventual behavioural distortions. In the period 1 August–26 November 2013, 870 valid locations were acquired. The wolf moved within a minimum convex polygon (95%) of 6541.1 ha (79% wooded), avoiding anthropized areas. Nocturnal and diurnal displacements were significantly different (p < 0.01). Nocturnal displacements were 4409.4 ± 617.5 m during summer and 3684.8 ± 468.1 m during autumn, without differences between seasons. Diurnal movements were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the summer (2239.0 ± 329.0 m) than in the autumn (595.9 ± 110.3 m), when the hunting season was running. As for a wild wolf, clear complementarity concerning human activities was recorded and no habituation signals were detected, but this is only a first case study that aims to be a stimulus for further research and a call for widespread data sharing.

show abstract

Estimating distribution and abundance of wide‐ranging species with integrated spatial models: Opportunities revealed by the first wolf assessment in south‐central Italy

Gervasi,

Aragno,

Salvatori

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Estimating demographic parameters for wide‐ranging and elusive species living at low density is challenging, especially at the scale of an entire country. To produce wolf distribution and abundance estimates for the whole south‐central portion of the Italian wolf population, we developed an integrated spatial model, based on the data collected during a 7‐month sampling campaign in 2020–2021. Data collection comprised an extensive survey of wolf presence signs, and an intensive survey in 13 sampling areas, aimed at collecting non‐invasive genetic samples (NGS). The model comprised (i) a single‐season, multiple data‐source, multi‐event occupancy model and (ii) a spatially explicit capture‐recapture model. The information about species' absence was used to inform local density estimates. We also performed a simulation‐based assessment, to estimate the best conditions for optimizing sub‐sampling and population modelling in the future. The integrated spatial model estimated that 74.2% of the study area in south‐central Italy (95% CIs = 70.5% to 77.9%) was occupied by wolves, for a total extent of the wolf distribution of 108,534 km2 (95% CIs = 103,200 to 114,000). The estimate of total population size for the Apennine wolf population was of 2557 individuals (SD = 171.5; 95% CIs = 2127 to 2844). Simulations suggested that the integrated spatial model was associated with an average tendency to slightly underestimate population size. Also, the main contribution of the integrated approach was to increase precision in the abundance estimates, whereas it did not affect accuracy significantly. In the future, the area subject to NGS should be increased to at least 30%, while at least a similar proportion should be sampled for presence‐absence data, to further improve the accuracy of population size estimates and avoid the risk of underestimation. This approach could be applied to other wide‐ranging species and in other geographical areas, but specific a priori evaluations of model requirements and expected performance should be made.

show abstract

Assessing trends in wolf impact on livestock through verified claims in historical vs. recent areas of occurrence in Italy

Cited by 12 publications

References 34 publications

Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany

Patterns of livestock loss associated with a recolonizing wolf population in Germany

Does the Wolf (Canis lupus) Exhibit Human Habituation Behaviours after Rehabilitation and Release into the Wild? A Case Report from Central Italy

Estimating distribution and abundance of wide‐ranging species with integrated spatial models: Opportunities revealed by the first wolf assessment in south‐central Italy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About