As wolf populations recover across North America and Europe, evidence-based coexistence strategies are essential to reducing both livestock losses and lethal wolf control.
Coexistence conflicts create welfare impacts on multiple parties. Livestock that survive wolf attacks may sustain injuries, suffer chronic stress from repeated predator presence, or require euthanasia. Wolves killed in control operations die suddenly, while those in leg-hold traps may suffer for extended periods. Lethal control of entire packs is ecologically and ethically costly. Ranchers experience real economic and psychological stress from depredation events. Non-lethal deterrence methods, when properly implemented, can break the cycle of depredation, retaliation, and escalating conflict. Poorly implemented compensation schemes that fail to cover true losses erode goodwill toward wolf recovery and increase pressure for lethal control. Investment in technical support for producers adopting coexistence practices improves both livestock welfare and wolf survival.