Economic Research of Human-Wildlife Conflicts

Economic Research of Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Methods and Assessments

Research Project

The scope of wildlife damage management activities continues to expand. For example, increased populations of urban, resident Canada geese pose nuisance/contamination problems in many municipalities throughout the United States. New wildlife diseases (e.g., hantavirus, bovine TB, chronic wasting disease) pose risks to human health, livestock production and wildlife populations. Predators (i.e., red fox) can deter recovery efforts for certain endangered/threatened species (i.e., California least tern).

Essentially, 4 parameters characterize the economics of wildlife damage management activities:

1. crop (resource) value,
2. crop (resource) damage,
3. cost of the wildlife-management method (i.e., both personnel and materials) and
4. effectiveness of the damage reduction.

This project seeks to quantify benefits and costs of new, and traditional, wildlife management activities. What are the "real" costs and returns of intervening with repellents, relocations, removals, rodenticides, etc. to limit the effects of certain wildlife upon agriculture, natural resources, or public health?

Project Leader: Dr. Stephanie A. Shwiff 
(stephanie.a.shwiff@aphis.usda.gov)
USDA/APHIS/WS/NWRC
4101 LaPorte Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80521
(970) 266-6150

NWRC's Economic Impacts to Colorado
Downloadable Factsheet on Research Project

Vampire Bat Rabies Calculator (Spanish)
Vampire Bat Rabies Calculator (English)

Economic Benefits of Oral Rabies Vaccination
Solutions Through Science: Economics of Wildlife Damage Management

Project Goal and Objectives 
Publications