Abstract
Calf (Bos taurus) depredation by the federally endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) on ranches in southwest Florida is an important issue because ranches represent mixed landscapes that provide habitat critical to panther recovery. The objectives of this study were to (1) quantify calf depredation by panthers on two ranches in southwest Florida, and (2) develop a habitat suitability model to evaluate the quality of panther hunting habitat on ranchlands, assess whether the model could predict predation risk to calves, and discuss its potential to be incorporated into an incentive-based compensation program. We ear-tagged 409 calves with VHF transmitters on two ranches during 2011–2013 to document calf mortality. We developed a model to evaluate the quality of panther hunting habitat on private lands in southwest Florida using environmental variables obtained from the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) Cooperative Landcover Database and nocturnal GPS locations of panthers provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). We then tested whether the model could predict the location of calf depredation sites. Tagged calf loss to panthers varied between the two ranches (0.5%/yr to 5.3%/yr) and may have been influenced by the amount of panther hunting habitat on each ranch as the ranch that experienced higher depredation rates contained a significantly higher probability of panther presence. Depredation sites of tagged calves had a significantly greater probability of panther presence than depredation sites of untagged calves that were found by ranchers in open pastures. This suggests that there may be more calves killed in high risk environments than are being found and reported by ranchers and that panthers can hunt effectively in open environments. It also suggests that the model may provide a means for evaluating the quality of panther hunting habitat and the corresponding risk of depredation to livestock across the landscape. We suggest that our approach could be applied to prioritize and categorize private lands for participation in a Payment for Ecosystem Services program that compensates landowners for livestock loss and incentivizes conserving high quality habitat for large carnivores where livestock depredation is a concern.
Highlights
Conflict between large carnivores and humans is a global issue that has become an important aspect of large carnivore conservation
It is important to reduce the economic impact of calf depredation through proactive management techniques or compensation and promote the conservation of panther habitat on ranches through incentive-based programs
Implementing intensive livestock management practices to reduce depredation is not considered a practical option for large cattle ranches in Florida, so compensation strategies are needed that are both equitable and that promote continued conservation of important panther habitat
Summary
Conflict between large carnivores and humans is a global issue that has become an important aspect of large carnivore conservation. The only breeding population of Florida panthers occurs in south Florida and during the 1980s the panther population was thought to be as low as 20–30 adults, but due to protection under the Endangered Species Act and recent recovery efforts the population is believed to range from 100–180 panthers of breeding age [9,10]. This population growth has led to an increase in panther use of private ranchlands, resulting in an increase of verified calf (B. taurus) depredations by panthers in south Florida [10], which has raised concerns and requests for compensation Rancher and Commissioner, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), personal communication)
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