PROTECTION OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES 



WS plays a leadership role in cooperative 

 efforts with the States and agriculture 

 producers across the country to protect farm 

 crops, livestock, and aquaculture and forest 

 resources from damage caused by wildlife. 

 NASS has documented annual depredation 

 losses to selected agriculture commodities in 

 the United States. These losses include more 

 than $110 million for corn, blueberries, and 

 sunflower and more than $14 million for farm- 

 raised catfish and trout. Wildlife damage to 

 agriculture in the United States, excluding 

 forest resources, is estimated at between $600 

 million and $1.6 billion annually. 



Although many species of wild animals cause 

 damage to farm crops, birds and deer cause 

 the most damage. Each year, for example, 

 blackbirds severely damage sunflower crops in 

 the Dakotas and Minnesota and rice in the 

 Southeastern States. Scientific surveys show 

 sunflower damage to be $4 million to $11 

 million each year in Minnesota and the 

 Dakotas. WS personnel provide assistance to 

 farmers through cooperative programs 

 designed to reduce damage to tolerable levels 

 through habitat management, behavioral 

 modification, and population management. 

 Technical assistance provided to producers 

 requesting assistance includes literature and 

 recommendations based on research findings, 

 demonstrations or training, and the loaning of 

 specialized equipment. 



In some situations, WS conducts direct 

 management assistance through cost-effective, 

 integrated wildlife damage-management 

 programs that use a variety of nonlethal and 

 lethal approaches to minimize damage. WS 

 uses the most selective methods available 

 when lethal removal is necessary and 

 continues to improve on methods selectivity 

 through research. The number of nontarget 

 animals taken by WS nationwide is typically 

 less than one-half of 1 percent of the total 

 number of all animals removed by lethal 

 means. 



Predator damage management continues to be 

 an important focus in Western States. All 

 Western States except Hawaii, Alaska, and 

 Kansas have major cooperative livestock 

 protection programs. Statistics compiled by 

 NASS estimate annual cattle, sheep, and goat 

 losses to predators in the United States at 

 more than $65 million. 



WS commissioned NASS to conduct a 

 customer satisfaction survey of livestock 

 producers in 24 States who received direct 

 assistance from WS to manage wildlife 

 livestock predation on their farms or ranches. 

 WS customers reported losses of cattle, sheep, 

 and goats caused by predators valued at $17.5 

 million during 1998. Predators accounted for 

 64 percent of WS customer livestock losses in 

 1998, and coyotes were responsible for 58 

 percent of all predator losses. Almost 75 

 percent of the 1 1 ,777 producers contacted in 

 early FY 1999 responded to the survey. 

 Overall, more than 89 percent of the respon- 

 dents were satisfied with the services received 

 from WS. Customers also gave high marks on 

 WS program effectiveness, with more than 85 

 percent rating the services received as 

 effective. 



In Utah, for example, livestock sales total more 

 than 75 percent of all agricultural cash 

 receipts. WS provides protection from 

 predator losses for about 95 percent of the 

 State's domestic sheep and 20 percent of 

 newborn calves. Increasingly, WS is providing 

 protection for domestic turkey flocks, goats, 

 and exotic livestock, including ostrich and 

 emu in Utah. Major predators include 



coyotes, mountain lions, and black bears. In 

 1999, the Utah WS program was able to keep 

 cooperator predation loss for sheep at below 5 

 percent for lambs and below 3 percent for 

 adult sheep. WS monitors the predator 

 management methods practiced by Utah 

 livestock producers and provides technical 

 assistance to producers regarding nonlethal 

 management strategies. 



As wolf populations continue to expand their 

 range in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Minne- 

 sota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, management 

 of wolf predation continues to be a concern for 

 livestock producers. In Minnesota, WS 

 responded to 78 requests for assistance that 

 were verified to be wolf damage and captured 

 106 wolves in 1999. WS also continues to 

 play an important role in the recovery of the 

 gray wolf in the northern Rocky Mountains. 

 Since the reintroduction of 66 wolves in Idaho 

 and Yellowstone National Park in 1995 and 

 1996, wolf numbers increased to 340 animals 

 by August 1999. Wolf-human conflicts have 

 increased substantially as has the demand for 

 assistance by WS. WS wildlife specialists 

 have verified wolf predation, captured problem 

 wolves, helped to mediate conflicts between 

 agencies and livestock owners, and dissemi- 

 nated information about predator damage 

 management to producers and the general 

 public. APHIS contingency funds were again 

 required to accomplish damage management 

 activities in FY 1 999. Many wolves are 

 expected to disperse from both the Idaho and 

 Yellowstone recovery areas in 2000 and cause 

 further discontent among ranchers in 

 surrounding areas. As a result, demands for 

 WS support are expected to increase. 



