Efficacy of Predator Management

[ThunderJack49]

I tried using chatgpt to get an idea of the effect of predator hunting in my area and this is what was returned

Output (3-year neonate effect, summed)​

• Coyotes removed (60 total): ~+2,637 neonates saved
• Black bears added (1.5 total): ~−22.5 neonates
• Mountain lions added (0.6 total): ~−27 neonates
• Wolves added (0.9 total): ~−108 neonates
• Net total (all species): ~+2,480 neonates over 3 years

Interpretation​

• The single hunter, focused on high-intensity coyote removal year-round, produces the largest measurable benefit by far: thousands of neonates saved over 3 years, even after accounting for the modest losses from occasional black bears, mountain lions, and wolves taken under legal seasons.
• The main driver is sheer numbers: removing many coyotes multiplies a relatively large per-coyote benefit.
• The losses from taking (or adding) larger predators are meaningful per animal, but because a single hunter will realistically take far fewer of those large predators, their net negative effect is small compared to many coyotes removed.

I found this interesting. And motivating.

 

[S-3 ranch]

We had 20 hunters on 15,000 acres all trying to kill any coyotes they saw and never put a dent in them, so we bought 200 snares and put them around all the places they were digging under a sheep wire fence, we put a major dent in them with snares and traps, minute we stopped natural recruitment from other places just filled the gap again, so imo a year round hard press trap and snares
Is only option