Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Campus Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Applied Ecology (MS)
Administrative Home Department
College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
Advisor 1
John A. Vucetich
Committee Member 1
Jared Wolfe
Committee Member 2
Sarah Hoy
Abstract
Research comparing the efficacy of non-lethal and lethal control of depredations by wolves in southern Idaho has shown non-lethal control to be more effective. However, to my knowledge, research has never been conducted on the cost efficacy of non-lethal and lethal control in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Without this knowledge, it is impossible to determine if current allocations of public funds are cost efficacious. I conducted a cost analysis comparing an area utilizing non-lethal control with an area utilizing lethal control in southern Idaho. A precise determination of said cost efficacy was not possible due to data limitations. Nevertheless, my analysis (i) developed a framework for making this determination and (ii) applied that framework to make as precise an assessment as possible. On average, the number of wolves that can be killed before lethal control is more expensive than non-lethal control is 7.0 annually. The estimated number of wolves actually killed in was 7.4 annually on average. This suggested the costs of non-lethal and lethal control were similar.
Recommended Citation
Coleman, Nathan M., "COMPARING THE ECONOMIC COSTS OF LETHAL AND NON-LETHAL CONTROL OF WOLF DEPREDATION ON SHEEP IN SOUTHERN IDAHO", Campus Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2023.