Human-carnivore coexistence
Learning to live and ranch with native wildlife, especially potential predators like bears and wolves, in the new wild West.
For me, this began with chasing black bears out of campsites, campgrounds, and parking lots, trapping and radio-collaring black bears in Yosemite National Park and grizzly bears in the Selkirk Mountains with Idaho Fish & Game. Later, after years of rangeland and ranch management work, I spent several years working with ranchers in the grizzly and wolf country of Montana and Wyoming, through the non-profit People and Carnivores. Now I do this work of Reintegrating Wildness through the Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative, with a focus on the return of wolves to the Southern Rockies—including serving on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife wolf restoration Stakeholder Advisory Group.
Much of my work on livestock-carnivore conflict minimization relies on my background in range management, especially strategic grazing management and stockmanship, because grazing in Nature’s image can reduce livestock vulnerability to predation. I’ve also written perspectives and been interviewed in podcasts and news articles on this topic.
Publications
Final summary of recommendations for the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan
Keystone Policy Center and Colorado Parks and Wildlife
September 2022 | Denver, Colorado | Stakeholder Advisory Group
Colorado State University Extension
May 2020 | Info sheet 8.010 in: People and Predator Series: Colorado Wolves | Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence
Reducing Conflict With Grizzly Bears, Wolves and Elk: A Western Landowners Guide
December 2018 | Santa Fe, New Mexico | R. Danvir, et al.
Livestock management for coexistence with large carnivores, healthy land and productive ranches
People and Carnivores
May 2015 | Bozeman, Montana | M. Barnes
Preventing predation of Livestock—Livestock management for coexistence with large carnivores
In Practice
November 2014 | 158: 6-7,16 | M. Barnes
Education
Rancher insights -- Interview with an expert: Matt Barnes [video interview]
October 28, 2020 | Wolf Coexistence Quest | Project Hero, Captain Planet Foundation
Presentations
What would coexistence with large carnivores look like?
October 26, 2023 | Jackson, Wyoming | Quick talk and panel | M. Barnes; with A. Bott, moderated by S. Clark
Livestock-carnivore coexistence strategies and tools
Practitioners’ Workshop, International Wildlife Coexistence Conference
October 17, 2022 | Pray, Montana | M. Barnes
Ranching with wolves and grizzly bears: Lessons from the Northern Rockies
2021 – 2022 | M. Barnes
December 5, 2022 | Wildlife Management course | Fort Lewis College | Durango, Colorado
May 3, 2022 | RegenAg Masterclass | Australia (virtual)
January 28, 2022 | Living With Wolves traveling exhibit | Powerhouse Science Center | Durango, Colorado
January 22, 2022 | Western Colorado Food and Farm Forum | Montrose, Colorado
December 11, 2021 | Living With Wolves traveling exhibit | Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, Colorado
Wolves and agriculture: Range management practices to reduce predation risk
2020 – 2021 | M. Barnes
March 24, 2021 | Wildlife Management course | Fort Lewis College | Durango, Colorado
October 21, 2020 | Living With Wolves traveling exhibit | Steamboat Creates | Steamboat Springs, Colorado
August 5, 2020 | Living With Wolves traveling exhibit | Center for Public Lands and Coldharbour Institute Western Colorado University | Gunnison, Colorado
Livestock grazing in harmony with land, wolves and grizzly bears
2018 – 2020 | M. Barnes
February 19, 2020 | Native American Range Advisory Committee symposium | Society for Range Management | Denver, Colorado
April 26, 2019 | Panel | High Country Conservation Advocates | Crested Butte, Colorado
May 24, 2018 | Leopold Writing Program lecture | Harwood Museum | Taos, New Mexico
February 2, 2017 | The Range Riders [film, panel]; Strategies for Loss Prevention [panel]; and Working Together [panel]. Ranching with Carnivores symposium | Yale School of Forestry and the Environment | New Haven, Connecticut
Livestock management for coexistence with large carnivores, healthy land and productive ranches
2013 – 2017 | M. Barnes (People and Carnivores, Bozeman, Montana)
April 18, 2016 | Guest lecture, Montana State University | Bozeman, Montana
January 13, 2016 | Upper Green River Cattle Association | Pinedale, Wyoming
November 4, 2015 | Guest lecture, Montana State University | Bozeman, Montana
July 23, 2015 | International Mountain Section, Society for Range Management | Bozeman, Montana
May 20, 2015 | Non-Lethal Predator Damage Management Workshop | USDA Wildlife Services, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes | Flathead Indian Reservation | Polson, Montana
February 2, 2015 | Groundbreaking Non-Lethal Strategies for Minimizing Livestock Depredation; and Wildlife Habitat & Management [symposia] | Society for Range Management | Sacramento, California
October 7, 2014 | [poster] Crossing Boundaries in Science, Management, & Conservation | 12th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem | Yellowstone National Park | Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming
September 11, 2014 | 8th International Wildlife Ranching Symposium: Congress for Wildlife and Livelihoods on Private and Communal Lands | Estes Park, Colorado
August 26, 2014 | Manifesting the Destiny of Wildlife & Habitat Science, Stewardship, & Solvency | Central Mountains and Plains Section, and Wyoming Chapter, The Wildlife Society | Sheridan, Wyoming
March 7, 2014 | Splitting the Baby: Public Trust, Multiple Use, and Current Policy in Wildlife Management | Montana Chapter, The Wildlife Society | Bozeman, Montana | abstract, Intermountain Journal of Sciences
February 11, 2014 | Producer Forum | Society for Range Management | Orlando, Florida
October 29, 2013 | Tools for Coexistence Between Livestock & Large Carnivores: Guard Dogs & Rangeland Stewardship | Enhancing Montana’s Wildlife and Habitat | Bozeman, Montana
Many of my presentations on ranching with wolves and grizzly bears have been in conjunction with the Living with Wolves travelling exhibit | Photo credit: Jim and Jamie Dutcher / Living with Wolves