Mountain Lion and Bear Conservation Strategies Report, AGFD, Jan ...

Significant and widespread conflicts between humans and large carnivores arise due to
depredations of livestock, resulting in predator removals in response to depredations (Linnell et
al. 1999). Surveys suggest that the public can be polarized in their opposition to or support for
removal of predators that threaten livestock or other domestic prey (Casey et al. 2005).
However, implementing the experiment outlined above coincident with public involvement
might be feasible from an adaptive management perspective. Regardless, this experimental
assessment likely is an untenable approach for managing depredations of cattle by mountain
lions in Arizona unless the Department chooses to commit long-term to involvement in predator
control efforts for livestock. This management approach may not be desirable.
BLACK BEAR
We analyzed depredation harvests of black bears for a fifteen-year period between 1990 and
2005 throughout Arizona to describe patterns, trends, and demographics of depredation harvest,
and determine relationships between depredation harvest and sport harvest of black bears. We
used 1990 as the starting point for our analysis because the state law that permits livestock
owners to protect their property from depredating bears (A.R.S. § 17-302) was significantly
changed in 1990 to require reasonable evidence of attacks on livestock recently if a person
authorized by the Department requests such evidence. Prior to 1990, scavenging black bears
caught and killed in traps set for depredating mountain lions may have been reported in the
depredation harvest. Beginning in 2006, hunters were permitted to kill depredating black bears
(and mountain lions), keep the carcass and report it in the hunter harvest.
Black bears are omnivores and their scavenging of livestock carcasses may put them at risk of
being inappropriately blamed for livestock mortality. In a food habits study by LeCount et al.
(1984) in central Arizona, the frequency of occurrence of cattle in the diet of black bears was 0.4
percent. In a second food habits analysis of black bears in east-central Arizona by LeCount and
Yarchin (1990), the presence of livestock in scats was not detected.
The black bears killed for livestock depredation during the period analyzed were mostly males,
were taken during the months of May–July, averaged 2.7/year (range = 0–11/year), and did not
contribute significantly to the statewide harvest of black bear (about 1%) (Table 11). As with
mountain lions, the killing of black bears for livestock depredation is currently occurring in
Greenlee and Graham counties where Wildlife Services have contractual agreements with the
county and livestock associations to employ government depredation hunters.
Relatively little livestock depredation occurs as a result of black bear activities and no change
may be needed to manage black bears effectively.
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