An Economic Analysis of the Predator Problem in the Range-Sheep Industry in Utah

The economic effects, to the Utah range-sheep operation and to the economy of the state of Utah, of predation upon sheep were studied by use of a personal interview survey. This survey sampled 20 percent of the range-sheep operations in Utah. The sheep and lamb death loss from predation was found to be 61.0 sheep and lambs per 1,000 head of ewes in fiscal 1969. The survey. also showed that 71.36 percent of the losses were lambs and 28.64 percent were ewes. The total economic loss to Utah sheep ranchers was calculated to be 1,062,502 dollars as a result of predation, in fiscal year 1969. Using the Type II multiplier of 4.330 for the livestock industry, published by the University of Utah, the total economic loss, resulting from predation upon sheep and lambs, to all sectors of the economy of the state of Utah, was determined as 3,901,854 dollars. The bounty system was found to be the least costly method of controlling predators, followed by private control methods. The Utah District, Division of Wildlife Services, had the highest control cost per predator, and this increased drastically when a change of name and changes in personnel and policies were instituted for this federal predator control agency