Sustaining long term healthy populations of large carnivores through peaceful coexistence with humans

The University of Wisconsin Carnivore Coexistence Lab seeks to sustain long term healthy populations of large carnivores through peaceful coexistence between carnivores and the local people. We have found that success can be achieved when the following four objectives are scientifically understood and integrated into a wildlife plan.

  1. Prevention of predation on domestic animals.
  2. Mitigation of human-induced carnivore mortality.
  3. Dependence on research which tests whether maintaining carnivore populations can secure a healthy ecosystem
  4. Incorporation of laws, ethics, and scientific integrity regarding how carnivores and people can coexist

The Olseth Family Foundation is proud to support several North American projects:

  • Longview, Alberta, Canada: The coexistences of grizzly bears, grey wolves, cougars, black bears, and coyotes with cattle on public grazing lands owned by members of a Crown Lands Cooperative.
  • Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin and surrounding private property: Coexistence of gray wolves, cougars, black bears, and coyotes with livestock owners who reside in close proximity to a tribal nation who reveres the wolf.
  • The Feather River Watershed in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains: Integration of non-lethal prevention of livestock loss from cougars, gray wolves, black bears, and coyotes.
  • Survival analyses of Mexican, red and gray wolves using radio collars and historical data. The objective of this study is to better understand the effects of policy changes that tighten or loosen protections for wolves.