The Price of Predators: an Economic Impact Model for Livestock Ranches
Friday, June 18, 2010 - 11:31
in Mathematics & Economics
In Wyoming, about $4 million worth of rangeland cattle and sheep were lost to predators in 2005. Using a computerized model, researchers have now simulated an individual ranch's economic impact of livestock losses to predators such as wolves and coyotes. Both short-term profitability and long-term viability were found to be affected by predation.