UC Berkeley

Human-carnivore conflict (HCC) is a major conservation challenge that drives declines of large carnivore populations and impacts human livelihoods and major industries. Protected areas are often unable to support wildlife without surrounding unprotected and developed dispersal areas, where they may spend large portions of their time. Predictive mapping of carnivore predation risk based on verified livestock predation has created new tools for effective HCC management. Yet, rarely are verified conflict and ecological data integrated with social and attitudinal data describing people’s perceptions of risks from carnivores, despite their importance for carnivore conservation. This dissertation explores methods of incorporating participatory spatial knowledge with carnivore ecology and behavior, land use, human infrastructure, and human activity. This research contributes to theoretical understandings of social and spatial factors contributing to HCC and carnivore management in developed landscapes, and explores the effectiveness of using participatory and multidisciplinary methods for conservation in a rapidly changing world. In Chapter 1, I introduce theories underlying this research, describe the study site, and contextualize the research questions within the global trend of carnivore responses to increasing human activity. Chapter 2 applies ecological theory to describe predation on domestic prey and devises an ecological framework for understanding and mitigating HCC. Case studies demonstrate its utility for employing appropriate conflict interventions in varying ecological contexts. Chapter 3 maps patterns of verified and perceived HCC using community participatory mapping and verified livestock predation records, and provides recommendations for incorporating ecological data and participatory social data to more effectively and holistically address conservation challenges. Chapter 4 uses fine scale telemetry data to analyze spotted hyena behaviors around human infrastructure and human activity across land cover types, human risk perceptions, land management zones, and seasons. I then discuss the broader implications of these findings for “adaptable” large carnivore species that share landscapes with people globally. Chapter 5 explores wildlife behavioral responses to one of the most widespread forms of human-wildlife conflict mitigation: the conservation fence. I show that, regardless of fence maintenance, most wildlife species are likely to cross these fences. I discuss implications of these findings for fenced protected areas globally, and offer the first known guidelines for classifying wildlife fence-specific behaviors from camera trap imagery. Finally, in Chapter 6, I make recommendations on how carnivore conservation and HCC management should be informed by ecological, social, and participatory data and methodologies.