Marin CountyLivestock Protection Program

CACASAWeed and Vertebrate Committee

May 2, 2006Stacy Carlsen

(Photo courtesy of Marin Agricultural Land Trust)

Overview

I. Controversial Program II. History and BackgroundIII. Integrated Livestock ProtectionIV. Cost Share ProgramV. Livestock Protection ComponentsVI. Livestock IndemnificationVII. Evaluation and Rate of SuccessVIII. Future Activities

(Photo courtesy of Marin Agricultural Land Trust)

I. Locally Controversial Program

•Contract with USDA Wildlife Services •Little emphasis on non-lethal methods•Years of heated debates•$60K / year ($30K and $30K Co. match)•Livestock / sheep losses estimated at

greater than 5%

History and Background• 1989 USDA Contract established in County (1/2 PY)• 1996 (Feb.) 1080 Livestock Collar registered by DPR • 1997 Initiated Livestock Protection Collar Pilot Project

(Compound 1080) Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino

• 1997 Full time position approved by Board of Supervisors

• 1998 (Nov.) Proposition 4 Anti-trapping/poison Initiative passes

• Animal Activist, News Media, Protest Increased “Local Tax Dollars replaces traps and poison” as the issue

• 1998-2001 USDA-WS cooperative agreement protested year round. Multiple public meetings, Board reports.

• 2000 notify USDA of 18 month sunset to contract and initiated local program

• 2001(October) Launch 5 year livestock strategic plan, $50K/ year

• 2006 Authorized additional 5 year program, $50k/year

II. Integrated Livestock Protection

• Discontinued Wildlife Services Contract 18 month sunset and program options• Initiated County program October 2001 • County Funded at $50K / year• Non-lethal program emphasis on exclusion• Five Year Strategic Plan- Goals, initiatives • Integrated approach with statistical

analysis

$2000.00/ yr. for 200 head or greater

$500.00/ yr. for >25 head but < 200 head

Matching funds, receipts, site inspections

$220K spent on project in past 5 yrs.

$250K planned over next 5 years

Future efforts to focus on high predation

areas, habitat modifications, husbandry,

premium fences

III. Cost Share Program

IV. Livestock Protection ComponentsComprehensive approach, including

cost-sharing of exclusion and

non-lethal improvements:

- Fencing

132,880 linear feet (25.1 miles)

IV. Livestock Protection Components

Comprehensive approach, includingCost-Sharing of exclusion andnon- lethal improvements:

- Guard Animals23 dogs 19 llamas

- Mixed Livestock Grazing

IV. Livestock Protection Components

Comprehensive approach, includingCost-Sharing of exclusion andnon- lethal improvements:

-Visual Deterrents,- Scare devices & noise makers

16 strobe & radio devices

IV. Livestock Protection Components

Comprehensive approach, including cost-sharing of exclusion and non-lethal improvements:

- Husbandry Practices

night penning/protective paddocksshepherdingadjust lambing season

IV. Livestock Protection ComponentsComprehensive approach includingcost-sharing of exclusion andnon-lethal improvements:

- Ranchers and Creativityelectric fencing,mixing stock,behavioral modifiers,

call and shoot, snares

Coyote management and

mutual assistance

Ranchers share efforts in regionNot just a spank and release program

IV. Indemnification

•Ranch and operation assessment by County/ UCCE

•Meet livestock management standard to be eligible•Up to 5% of loss•Loss verified•Maintain good standing

V. Evaluators of Success:

1. Average Livestock Losses

2. Level of Participation

3. Annual Cost

4. Does it Meet Rancher and Community Needs

V. Evaluators of Success:

1. Livestock Program Statistics:

- Number of sheep ~ 7,500

- Sheep under program ~ 6,700

- Average program loss < 2.2%

(for participating ranchers)

V. Evaluators of Success:V. Evaluators of Success:

2. Level of Participation:

• FY 01/02 – 13 of 31 ranchers• FY 02/03 – 16 of 30• FY 03/04 – 17 of 29• FY 04/05 – 18 of 29• FY 05/06 – 21 of 29

All major producers participate with remainder being hobbyist or < 50 head

V. Evaluators of Success:

3. Annual Cost:

-FY 01/02 – $50K = $44K cost share / $6 K Indemnified-FY 02/03 – $50K = $31K cost share / $19K Indemnified -FY 03/04 - $40K = $26K cost share / $14K Indemnified-FY 04/05 - $40K = $27K cost share / $13K Indemnified-FY 05/06 - $40K = $30K est. cost / $10K Indemnified-FY 06/07 - $50K = $40K est. cost / $10K Indemnified

…and

USDA Cost Benefit Analysis and Replacement Cost analysis

• Model utilizes hypothetical data or estimates- 1 year of data.

• Not based on trends or program analysis

• No actual Cost/ Benefit performed

• Replacement Cost Reports not peer reviewed

• No collaboration

USDA and Marin Co.

USDA/UCCE documented livestock losses (Sept-Oct)

• $36,240 (1994) 447 sheep • $83,000 (1995) 787 sheep• $39,440 (1996) 471 sheep• $40,950 (1997) 402 sheep• $36,776 (1998) 413 sheep• $32,776 (1999) 349 sheep• $82,805 (2000) 750 sheep

Mean $ Loss/ year =$43,585Mean animal loss/ year =516

Marin/UCCE documented livestock losses (FY)

• $28,227 (2001) 322 sheep• $19,350 (2002) 237 sheep• $14,322 (2003) 158 sheep• $13,052 (2004) 149 sheep• $12,000 (2005) 125 sheep*** (Current losses at 107)

Mean $ Loss/ Year = $17,390Mean animal loss/ year = 198

*** Estimate -July to June

USDA Marin Total

year 1 471 332 803

year 2 402 237 639

year 3 413 158 571

year 4 349 149 498

year 5 750 125 875

Total 2385 1001 3386

Degrees of freedom: 4 Chi-square = 169.998557189603 p is less than or equal to 0.001. The distribution is significant.

Five Year Comparison of Animal LossesChi square test

Program Cost

USDA-WS• $38,500 (1996)• $58,500 (1997)• $59,000 (1998)• $60,000 (1999)• $60,000 (2000)

Marin County• $50,000 (2001/02)• $50,000 (2002/03)• $40,000 (2003/04)• $40,000 (2004/05)• $40,000 (2005/06)• $50,000 (2006/07)******Proposed Budget

Five Year Comparison of Program CostChi-square test

USDA Cost Marin Co. Cost Total

year 1 $38.5K $50K 88.5

year 2 $58.5K $50K 108.5

year 3 $59K $40K 99

year 4 $60K $40K 100

year 5 $60K $40K 100

Total $276K $220K 496

Degrees of freedom: 4 Chi-square = 7.58076597433467 For significance at the .05 level, chi-square should be greater than or equal to 9.49. The distribution is not significant. p is less than or equal to 0.20.

V. Evaluators of Success:

4. Does it Meet Rancher and Community Needs

a) Board of Sups. authorized 5 + yrs. with any balance encumbered

b) Consensus between ranchers and animal activist on program objectives

c) Increased budget to $50K / year in FY 06/07

d) Pilot projects (lambing shelters, model fencing, habitat modifications) under consideration pending grant authorization

VI. Future Challenges

•Funding for UC and CSU research projects for habitat modification and cost benefit analysis

•Increased resources if greater participation

•Increased urban coyote / public interactions

•Continuous changing of non-lethal controls as coyotes learn to circumvent

Questions…