Socioeconomic Benefits of Large Carnivore Recolonization Through Reduced Wildlife‐Vehicle Collisions

Abstract The decline of top carnivores has released large herbivore populations around the world, incurring socioeconomic costs such as increased animal–vehicle collisions. Attempts to control overabundant deer in the Eastern United States have largely failed, and deer–vehicle collisions (DVCs) cont...

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Main Authors:	Sophie L. Gilbert, Kelly J. Sivy, Casey B. Pozzanghera, Adam DuBour, Kelly Overduijn, Matthew M. Smith, Jiake Zhou, Joseph M. Little, Laura R. Prugh
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	Wiley 2017-07-01
Series:	Conservation Letters
Subjects:	Carnivore ecosystem services predator‐prey trophic cascade
Online Access:	https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12280

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spelling	doaj-08b23bbfd613444fa861d2f7afbfedad2020-11-25T02:18:54ZengWileyConservation Letters1755-263X2017-07-0110443143910.1111/conl.12280Socioeconomic Benefits of Large Carnivore Recolonization Through Reduced Wildlife‐Vehicle CollisionsSophie L. Gilbert0Kelly J. Sivy1Casey B. Pozzanghera2Adam DuBour3Kelly Overduijn4Matthew M. Smith5Jiake Zhou6Joseph M. Little7Laura R. Prugh8Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow ID 83844 USADepartment of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK 99775 USADepartment of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK 99775 USADepartment of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK 99775 USADepartment of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK 99775 USADepartment of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK 99775 USADepartment of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK 99775 USAUAF School of Management University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK 99775 USADepartment of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK 99775 USAAbstract The decline of top carnivores has released large herbivore populations around the world, incurring socioeconomic costs such as increased animal–vehicle collisions. Attempts to control overabundant deer in the Eastern United States have largely failed, and deer–vehicle collisions (DVCs) continue to rise at alarming rates. We present the first valuation of an ecosystem service provided by large carnivore recolonization, using DVC reduction by cougars as a case study. Our coupled deer population models and socioeconomic valuations revealed that cougars could reduce deer densities and DVCs by 22% in the Eastern United States, preventing 21,400 human injuries, 155 fatalities, and $2.13 billion in avoided costs within 30 years of establishment. Recently established cougars in South Dakota prevent $1.1 million in collision costs annually. Large carnivore restoration could provide valuable ecosystem services through such socio‐ecological cascades, and these benefits could offset the societal costs of coexistence.https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12280Carnivoreecosystem servicespredator‐preytrophic cascade
collection	DOAJ
language	English
format	Article
sources	DOAJ
author	Sophie L. Gilbert Kelly J. Sivy Casey B. Pozzanghera Adam DuBour Kelly Overduijn Matthew M. Smith Jiake Zhou Joseph M. Little Laura R. Prugh
spellingShingle	Sophie L. Gilbert Kelly J. Sivy Casey B. Pozzanghera Adam DuBour Kelly Overduijn Matthew M. Smith Jiake Zhou Joseph M. Little Laura R. Prugh Socioeconomic Benefits of Large Carnivore Recolonization Through Reduced Wildlife‐Vehicle Collisions Conservation Letters Carnivore ecosystem services predator‐prey trophic cascade
author_facet	Sophie L. Gilbert Kelly J. Sivy Casey B. Pozzanghera Adam DuBour Kelly Overduijn Matthew M. Smith Jiake Zhou Joseph M. Little Laura R. Prugh
author_sort	Sophie L. Gilbert
title	Socioeconomic Benefits of Large Carnivore Recolonization Through Reduced Wildlife‐Vehicle Collisions
title_short	Socioeconomic Benefits of Large Carnivore Recolonization Through Reduced Wildlife‐Vehicle Collisions
title_full	Socioeconomic Benefits of Large Carnivore Recolonization Through Reduced Wildlife‐Vehicle Collisions
title_fullStr	Socioeconomic Benefits of Large Carnivore Recolonization Through Reduced Wildlife‐Vehicle Collisions
title_full_unstemmed	Socioeconomic Benefits of Large Carnivore Recolonization Through Reduced Wildlife‐Vehicle Collisions
title_sort	socioeconomic benefits of large carnivore recolonization through reduced wildlife‐vehicle collisions
publisher	Wiley
series	Conservation Letters
issn	1755-263X
publishDate	2017-07-01
description	Abstract The decline of top carnivores has released large herbivore populations around the world, incurring socioeconomic costs such as increased animal–vehicle collisions. Attempts to control overabundant deer in the Eastern United States have largely failed, and deer–vehicle collisions (DVCs) continue to rise at alarming rates. We present the first valuation of an ecosystem service provided by large carnivore recolonization, using DVC reduction by cougars as a case study. Our coupled deer population models and socioeconomic valuations revealed that cougars could reduce deer densities and DVCs by 22% in the Eastern United States, preventing 21,400 human injuries, 155 fatalities, and $2.13 billion in avoided costs within 30 years of establishment. Recently established cougars in South Dakota prevent $1.1 million in collision costs annually. Large carnivore restoration could provide valuable ecosystem services through such socio‐ecological cascades, and these benefits could offset the societal costs of coexistence.
topic	Carnivore ecosystem services predator‐prey trophic cascade
url	https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12280
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Socioeconomic Benefits of Large Carnivore Recolonization Through Reduced Wildlife‐Vehicle Collisions

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