Does Wolf Management in Latvia Decrease Livestock Depredation? An Analysis of Available Data

Jurģis Šuba (), Agrita Žunna, Guna Bagrade, Gundega Done, Aivars Ornicāns, Digna Pilāte, Alda Stepanova and Jānis Ozoliņš
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Jurģis Šuba: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Rigas Street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Agrita Žunna: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Rigas Street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Guna Bagrade: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Rigas Street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Gundega Done: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Rigas Street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Aivars Ornicāns: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Rigas Street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Digna Pilāte: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Rigas Street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Alda Stepanova: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Rigas Street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia
Jānis Ozoliņš: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Rigas Street 111, LV-2169 Salaspils, Latvia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: In Latvia, livestock depredation by wolves has increased during the last two decades. Most of the attacks occur in summer and autumn during wolf hunting season. Use of effective preventive measures in Latvia is low, and farmers primarily rely on wolf hunting as a depredation reduction measure. The total numbers of wolf attacks and number of affected sheep per year in regional forest management units were analyzed in relation to the estimated wolf density, extent of culling, and proportion of juveniles, as well as the sheep density and estimated number of wild prey animals. The response variables (number of attacks and affected sheep per year) were modelled using a negative binomial regression, testing the effects of every covariate separately and building models from the significant covariates. The depredation level was related to sheep density and estimated wolf population size. No reducing effect was found for culling, and an even greater depredation rate was expected when the proportion of culled wolves increased. In addition, no significant effect was associated with the other covariates. However, greater numbers of affected sheep were expected at higher red deer density, suggesting increased opportunistic livestock depredation when red deer locally outcompete roe deer, the preferred wolf prey in Latvia.

Keywords: wolf; Canis lupus; livestock; depredation; Latvia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8509-:d:1154373

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