"We are grateful you came along; this is an issue we have struggled to deal with and honestly have been unsure of how
to proceed. The Working Circle model provides the most sense moving forward.”
~ Oregon Senior Wildlife Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service
to proceed. The Working Circle model provides the most sense moving forward.”
~ Oregon Senior Wildlife Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Background
WCPS was formed in 2016 by California Wolf Center and Northern California ranchers to collaboratively discover and test strategies to reduce the vulnerability of livestock to large carnivores in an effort to minimize unnecessary losses of both livestock and wolves. Initial efforts were based on merging rancher knowledge of land and livestock with the skills and knowledge of experienced large carnivore biologists. The group and the effort has evolved to a more comprehensive approach that connects-the-dots between diverse and proven practices that have demonstrated to not only decrease vulnerability in livestock to predation but to increase ranch sustainability based on the incorporation of grazing and range management, and wildlife ecology.
Today, WCPS works towards creating resilient wild-working landscapes managed by ranch families that support diverse wildlife, including wolves, while enhancing land health.
We are community-based program that develops and supports the implementation of meaningful, viable, and long-term strategies that support working ranch sustainability and land stewardship while conserving and protect the gray wolf A community-based program that develops and supports the implementation of meaningful, viable, and long-term strategies that support working ranch sustainability and land stewardship while conserving and protect the gray wolf and other wildlife.
WCPS works to find a better way forward for wolves and the working landscapes they call home. We bring communities together to work towards solutions rather than against each other. This new comprehensive model unites rather than divides the values and views of rural and urban residents surrounding the business of sustainable ranching and large carnivore conservation. WCPS fosters a sustainable and long-term approach to ensuring that wildlife and working ranches can discover new and viable solutions to modern challenges and succeed on shared landscapes.
Within the model, WCPS provides a scientifically informed and socially acceptable strategy to preventing and managing wolf-livestock conflicts on private and public lands alike. And, through the conflict reduction strategies, the program forwards practices that improve, land, water, and wildlife habitat further creating long-term sustainability, resilience, and overall health to ecosystems. Our partners include individuals from both the livestock community and environmental community, agency personnel, and NGO's that share our vision.
In March of 2020, WCPS joined forces with Defenders of Wildlife to further our efforts on the ground while promoting greater understanding and collaboration between environmental/wildlife groups and working ranches across the west. By promoting an understanding of the challenges ranchers face and the level of sophistication required to operate these complex biological systems in an ecologically and economically sustainable fashion will go a long way to conserve the open lands and wildlife we all value.
We are focused on neutralizing the polarizing debate that has hindered the ability for wolves, livestock, and people to thrive on shared lands.
|
WCPS Focus and Priorities
Wolf-livestock Conflict Risk Reduction Outreach & Education (urban and rural communities) Landscape Health (soil, water, plants, wildlife habitat, biodiversity) WCPS supports activities that lead to ranch sustainability while forwarding wolf conservation Visit Programs page for details |