1. Marin County Livestock Protection Program CACASA Weed and Vertebrate Committee May 2, 2006 Stacy Carlsen ( Photo courtesy of Marin Agricultural Land Trust)

2. Overview I.Controversial Program II.History and Background III.Integrated Livestock Protection IV.Cost Share Program V.Livestock Protection Components VI.Livestock Indemnification VII.Evaluation and Rate of Success VIII.Future Activities (Photo courtesy of Marin Agricultural Land Trust)

3. 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%

4. 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

5. 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

6. $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

7. IV. Livestock Protection Components Comprehensive approach, including cost-sharing of exclusion and non-lethal improvements: - Fencing 132,880 linear feet (25.1 miles)

8. IV. Livestock Protection Components Comprehensive approach, including Cost-Sharing of exclusion and non- lethal improvements: - Guard Animals 23 dogs 19 llamas - Mixed Livestock Grazing

9. IV. Livestock Protection Components Comprehensive approach, including Cost-Sharing of exclusion and non- lethal improvements: -Visual Deterrents, - Scare devices & noise makers 16 strobe & radio devices

10. IV. Livestock Protection Components Comprehensive approach, including cost-sharing of exclusion and non-lethal improvements: - Husbandry Practices night penning/protective paddocks shepherding adjust lambing season

11. IV. Livestock Protection Components Comprehensive approach including cost-sharing of exclusion and non-lethal improvements: - Ranchers and Creativity electric fencing, mixing stock, behavioral modifiers, call and shoot, snares

12. Coyote management and mutual assistance Ranchers share efforts in region Not just a spank and release program

13. 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

14. V. Evaluators of Success: 1.Average Livestock Losses 2.Level of Participation 3.Annual Cost 4.Does it Meet Rancher and Community Needs

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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 =$43,585 Mean 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 = $17,390 Mean animal loss/ year = 198 *** Estimate -July to June

20. USDA MarinTotal year 1 471332803 year 2 402237639 year 3 413158571 year 4 349149498 year 5 750125875 Total 238510013386 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 Losses Chi square test

21. 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

22. Five Year Comparison of Program Cost Chi-square test USDA CostMarin Co. CostTotal year 1 $38.5K$50K88.5 year 2 $58.5K$50K108.5 year 3 $59K$40K99 year 4 $60K$40K100 year 5 $60K$40K100 Total $276K$220K496 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.

23. 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

24. 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

25. Questions…