Managing Attractants
What is it?
Managing attractants for livestock-carnivore conflict minimization generally involves securing or removing carcasses, bone piles, and other attractants — such as chicken coops, beehives, and calving afterbirth — that may draw predators closer to livestock. By reducing the overlap where predators and livestock are located, managing attractants can lower the risk of conflict, including depredation.
Why does it work?
Wolves have a very good sense of smell and can detect prey from miles away. Any dead, diseased, or dying animal, or other odor-producing attractant, left out may draw scavengers and predators. Hauling away, burying, or burning livestock carcasses from where livestock are grazing can help reduce the chances of predators coming near livestock.
When is it effective?
Managing attractants is most important in areas where livestock are concentrated in medium-sized wintering and birthing pastures or in open range situations near water sources, salt licks, or bedding areas. Removing carcasses, rather than piling them up at a home-ranch dead pit, has demonstrated success in reducing interactions between livestock and predators in the Northern Rockies. In addition to minimizing wolf-livestock conflict, carcass management may also help protect water quality and limit disease transmission.
How to implement it?
One goal of managing attractants is to remove historic bone piles and concentrations of carcasses that could potentially lead to livestock-carnivore conflicts.
There are 3 tiers of effective carcasses management:
Good - As you are able, move carcasses away from livestock or livestock away from carcasses.
Better - Bury or fence carcasses in a strategic location away from livestock. If burial is not feasible, use electric netting to secure the carcass.
Best - Remove carcasses and take them to rendering facilities, carcass-composting sites, or commercial landfills.
Take a look at Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Carcass Management Best Practices for Reducing Livestock Depredation for more suggestions.
Community Approaches to Carcass Removal
Traditionally, managing attractants is accomplished by individual producers on their own operations; however, some producers work with neighboring ranches to find collective solutions. Community carcass removal programs are a relatively new practice being developed by rancher-led collaborative groups in Montana, with potential to be modeled in Colorado. Several agencies and organizations are exploring paths to establish more accessible options for carcass removal in Colorado. If you are interested in a carcass pick-up or drop-off program, mention this to your local stockgrowers association, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Colorado Department of Agriculture staff.
