Taming Tensions: Identifying Conflict Between Livestock, Carnivores, and Native Ungulates
Category: Research Poster
Author(s): Aidan Hallsworth, Emma Burdick, James Wiske, Hannah Bailey
Presenter(s): Aidan Hallsworth
Mentors(s): Cassandre Venumiere-Lefebvre, Matthew Hyde, Stewart Breck
Interactions between large carnivores, native ungulates, and livestock are critical to understanding wildlife-livestock coexistence in multi-use landscapes. For carnivores, previous studies suggest they may be drawn to cattle, possibly increasing predation risk. For native ungulates the spatial and temporal dynamics of interactions are unclear, but some work suggests native ungulates are displaced by cattle due to competition for forage. This study examined how carnivores overlapped in space and time with cattle, and whether cattle indirectly compete with ungulates by reducing access to shared forage resources. We analyzed two years (2023–2024) of camera trap data collected from June to November across three grazing allotments in southwest Montana’s greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Kernel density estimates and mean detection times were utilized to evaluate the spatial and temporal interactions between species, providing insights into predator-prey dynamics and habitat usage. Preliminary findings suggest limited overlap between carnivores and cattle. Ungulates, however, demonstrated reduced temporal overlap in cattle-occupied areas, suggesting they are being displaced. These findings highlight the complex dynamics of shared landscapes and provide insights to improve coexistence strategies. By addressing stakeholder concerns and collaboration with livestock owners, this research contributes to balancing agricultural productivity and wildlife conservation in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.