1. Wolves make roadways safer, generating large economic returns to predator conservation.
- Author
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Raynor, Jennifer L., Grainger, Corbett A., and Parker, Dominic P.
- Subjects
PREDATORY animals ,WOLVES ,DEER populations ,DEER hunters ,WHITE-tailed deer - Abstract
Recent studies uncover cascading ecological effects resulting from removing and reintroducing predators into a landscape, but little is known about effects on human lives and property. We quantify the effects of restoring wolf populations by evaluating their influence on deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) in Wisconsin. We show that, for the average county, wolf entry reduced DVCs by 24%, yielding an economic benefit that is 63 times greater than the costs of verified wolf predation on livestock. Most of the reduction is due to a behavioral response of deer to wolves rather than through a deer population decline from wolf predation. This finding supports ecological research emphasizing the role of predators in creating a "landscape of fear." It suggests wolves control economic damages from overabundant deer in ways that human deer hunters cannot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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