WORKING WILD

Photo by Melanie Elzinga

OUR GOAL

Thriving ranches and thriving wildlife.

Working lands stitch together the patchwork of landscapes that create the character of the West and the open space valued by so many, both people and wildlife. The Working WildChallenge is a landowner-led effort that recognizes the challenge of ranching with wildlife, and facilitates constructive dialogue between wildlife managers and working lands stewards to solve problems through peer learning, public policies, and increasing access to technical and financial assistance. Our approach leads to stronger partnerships, more resilient ranches, and ultimately, better-connected landscapes.

OUR APPROACH

Understanding. Connection. Solutions.

Seeking Understanding

Between private stewards, public lands and wildlife managers, conservation organizations, and the public. Holding space on the landscape requires holding space for difficult conversations.

Connecting Practitioners

Through ranch tours, listening sessions, practitioner calls, stakeholder gatherings, virtual meetings, and publications, we connect with each other to promote peer-to-peer information exchange.

JOIN A CALL

Creating economic and policy solutions

As primary stakeholders with deep personal and financial ties to the land, we ensure that landowners have a direct voice in the policy matters that impact us.

CONFLICT REDUCTION CONSORTIUM

Photo by Melanie Elzinga

THE FOUR C's OF THE WWC

Conflict prevention, Control, Compensation & Collaboration

Conflict prevention

Conflict prevention tools need durable sources of funding to allow producers to implement these nonlethal methods within an adaptive framework.

Control

Lethal control is a critical tool in managing large carnivores on working landscapes; supporting, not undermining, conflict prevention.

Compensation

Compensation for losses to predation is a reasonable and important form of public support for policies that expand the ranges of widely-valued wildlife like wolves and bears.

Collaboration

Collaboration engages landowners early and meaningfully in decision-making processes and is critical to both effectiveness and equity when developing wildlife policies and land management plans.

Tell USDA that ranchers need assistance to manage the risks associated with predators

USDA asked us to demonstrate the need for cost-share and technical assistance for producer-implemented predator conflict prevention methods on working lands. Sign our letter to show your support!

Sign the Letter to USDA

SEE WHAT YOU MISSED | NOVEMBER 8-10, 2021

Beyond Conflict: Sustaining Economic Viability in the Working Wild

We hosted three engaging days (Nov. 8-10) with land stewards to seek solutions around large carnivore conflict reduction with partners from the Conflict on Working Lands Conservation Innovation Grant and Conflict Reduction Consortium.

CHECK IT OUT

Stories from the Working Wild

People are at the heart of healthy western wildlands

Can a fence that allows elk to pass stop the disease they carry?

Tough Questions about Wolves in Washington

Livestock Grazing and Hunting to Change Elk Behavior

Montana's Bangtail Divide - Abby Nelson

Catron and Apache Counties - Nelson Shirley

Wyoming's Sublette County - Cat Urbigkit

Colorado's Mountain Island - Kenyon Fields and Mary Conover

FIND

Resources

2023 National Policy Platform

Cover of NRCS State Cons_producer sign-on letter_vFinal.Updat.09.06.22

Letter to NRCS Re: Non-lethal predator risk management

Supporting Working Lands and Wildlife with the Four C’s

Cover from Working Across the Rural-Urban Divide - Messaging for Conflict Reduction - v.F.063021

Working across the rural-urban divide: Messaging for large carnivore conflict reduction

Redefining Conservation for the 21st Century

Working Wild Challenge Policy Recommendations

Collaborative Wildlife Migration Corridor Workshops

Habitat Conservation Strategies for Migrating Wildlife

Reducing Conflict with Grizzly Bears Wolves Elk

Reducing Conflict with Grizzly Bears, Wolves and Elk

Speaking from Experience: Landowners & the Endangered Species Act

People and Carnivores films

Guidebook to Human Carnivore Conflict

Guardian Dogs: Best Practice Manual for the use of Livestock Guardian Dogs

A Review: The Use of Livestock Protection Dogs in Association with Large Carnivores in the Rocky Mountains

Livestock protection dogs (LPDs) in the United States have helped to protect livestock herds from certain predators, but expanding, large-carnivore populations pose new challenges, and the number of LPDs killed by large predators is increasing. This literature review identifies LPD breeds that may be more suited for use around large carnivores, such as gray wolves. Read the Article (PDF)

Defenders of Wildlife Electric Fence Costshare program

Installing Turbo Fladry: An informational guide

Electrified Fladry for the Deterrence of Wolves

Safeguarding the Ranch, Farm, and Home from Grizzly Bears

Deterring Bears with Electrified Fencing: A beginner’s guide

USFWS Grizzly Response Protocol

Literature Review of Livestock Compensation Programs: Considering ways to assist livestock producers with grizzly conservation efforts in Montana

Montana Master Hunters program

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Rise to the Challenge. Give to support ranching and wildlife.

Help us grow the Working Wild Challenge program by donating now. Your financial contribution will help us expand our approach to more frontline communities across the West, ultimately connecting and protecting more landscapes.

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Looking for a particular solution? Facing a challenge you could use some advice on? Have a story you want to share? Send us a message!

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