Society for Range Management Ranch-Level Economic Impacts of Predation in a Range Livestock System

Predation can impose signifi cant costs on agricul-tural producers in range livestock systems. Livestock producers in the western United States have expe-rienced predation on their herds since domestic livestock were introduced into the region. Early efforts to control predators were often initiated by individual ranchers or small local groups. The fi rst federal involvement in wild-life damage control in the United States occurred in 1885. By 1915, Congress was appropriating funds for federal predator control operations directed at wolves and coyotes. In 1931, Congress passed the Animal Damage Control Act authorizing the control of injurious animals. This act is still in effect today. Today, USDA’s Wildlife Services, state and local agencies, and livestock producers work cooperatively to manage predators. Despite predator control efforts, Western livestock pro-ducers still experience signifi cant predations losses. Wyoming’s agricultural sector lost 4,000 cattle and calve