One way or another: predictors of wolf poaching in a legally harvested wolf population

Abstract

AbstractPoaching is a major threat to large predator populations, but the predictors of poaching are poorly mapped in developed countries where illegal killing is motivated by social reasons. Poaching can be common although the species is legally hunted, such as in the case of the wolf (Canis lupus). Our goal was to identify crucial motives of poaching to find possible solutions to the ongoing wolf conflict. We studied predictors of poaching on two spatial scales – countrywide (76 wolves) and territory [30 Global Positioning System (GPS)‐wolves] – during 2001–2016 in Finland. The countrywide factors predicting illegal kill were as follows: (1) lifestage, with adult wolves showing a remarkably high probability of being illegally killed in comparison with juveniles; (2) the number of wolves killed legally in the local scale, that is, licensed wolf hunting at the local scale decreased the likelihood of illegal killing, as did the total number of legally hunted wolves; (3) total legal bag in the whole country; and (4) density of the local human population, that is, low human density increased the probability of illegal kill. For breeding adult GPS‐collared wolves at the territory level, there was a positive relationship between the tendency to cross roads and likelihood of being illegally killed. Our results provided evidence that poaching is a matter of local intolerance toward wolves and that the problem is mainly related to wolf hunting. Legal hunting might decrease poaching, but seems inefficient as a long‐term solution. To maintain a viable wolf population, the poaching risk of breeding adults should be decreased. Predicted poaching probabilities could be used to tackle poaching in a preventive manner by involving both decision makers and local residents in anti‐poaching actions.