Livestock-predator conflicts are topic of Mendocino County seminar

Protecting livestock and the wildlife that preys on it is the focus of a workshop and discussion at the University of California Hopland Research and Extension Center this week.

The day-long workshop, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will be held Tuesday at the UC Extension facility’s Rod Shippey Hall beginning at 8:30 a.m. A “community conversation” about the often-thorny issue is scheduled Wednesday at the same time and place.

The workshop, titled “Living with Wildlife while Managing Working Landscapes,” aims to provide information about the difficulties of raising livestock in areas also populated with coyotes, mountain lions, dogs and other predators. Traditionally, trappers have been employed to catch predators, but the practice has become increasingly controversial.

The issue came to a head last year in Mendocino County when several animal rights groups sued the county over its decades-long practice of hiring federal trappers to kill wild and domestic animals suspected of slaughtering livestock.

Across the nation, such trapping programs have been under fire for their often-lethal methods of deterring predators as well as for inadvertently killing innocent animals in the process.

The animal rights groups dropped their case after the county agreed to consider non-lethal ways of reducing livestock losses to wild animals, but then refiled it when supervisors voted to renew the $142,357 trapping contract this year.

Animal rights groups like Project Coyote say farmers can protect their livestock without killing predators. Ranchers contended they already use non-lethal methods - such as fencing and guard dogs - but it’s not enough.

Presentations about non-lethal programs are scheduled for Tuesday’s workshop. On Wednesday, there are additional presentations in the morning, including by area ranchers, and discussion groups in the afternoon.

There is a $30 fee for attendees each day. Additional information about the workshop and discussion can be found at http://bit.ly/1RfyqKj.

You can reach Staff Writer?Glenda Anderson at 462-6473?or glenda.anderson@press?democrat.com. On Twitter?@MendoReporter