Characterization of puma–livestock conflicts in rangelands of central Argentina

摘要: Livestock predation is one of the major causes conflicts between humans and pumas ( Puma concolor ). Using data from interviews with ranchers kill-site inspections, we characterized puma–livestock in Villarino Patagones counties central Argentinean rangelands. Depredation was considered cause livestock losses, puma attacks were reported 46.6% 35.4% ranches Patagones, respectively. The majority underwent losses smaller than 1000 USD. proportion lost to (0.1–10.4%) financial (5.3–1560.4 USD) per ranch/year varied across ranches, small sheep affected most. recorded only at night preferentially grassland shrubs cropland habitats. Although nocturnal enclosures appeared decrease hunting most effective form reducing depredation implemented by ranchers. Mortality rates 3.7 1.1–1.56 individuals/year × 100 km 2 for pumas, Nocturnal fencing, shepherding spatial separation predators may efficiently reduce losses. However, poor association intensity persecution puma-related suggests that conflict mitigation Argentina not about damage but also increasing tolerance.