Wolf reintroduction programs face ongoing challenges from livestock predation, requiring evidence-based coexistence measures that protect both wolves and producer livelihoods.
Individual wolves killed in retaliation for livestock predation die violently and often illegally. Livestock killed by wolves experience traumatic predation deaths. The welfare cycle of predation and retaliation can be interrupted through protective husbandry practices that reduce encounters. Livestock guardian dogs that accompany herds prevent wolf approaches that might lead to predation, protecting both livestock welfare and wolves from retaliatory killing. Proactive coexistence measures benefit welfare on both sides of the conflict.