Poultry–carnivore conflict in Chile: Are we advancing toward effective co‐existence for small wild carnivore conservation?

Abstract Human–carnivore conflicts threaten carnivores worldwide; they are an escalating concern for the conservation of carnivores and the well‐being of subsistence farmers. While most of the available information focuses on large carnivores and livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats, the inter...

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Main Authors: Carolina S. Ugarte, Camila J. Stuardo, Javier Fernández, Constanza Napolitano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Conservation Science and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70071
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author Carolina S. Ugarte
Camila J. Stuardo
Javier Fernández
Constanza Napolitano
author_facet Carolina S. Ugarte
Camila J. Stuardo
Javier Fernández
Constanza Napolitano
author_sort Carolina S. Ugarte
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Human–carnivore conflicts threaten carnivores worldwide; they are an escalating concern for the conservation of carnivores and the well‐being of subsistence farmers. While most of the available information focuses on large carnivores and livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats, the interaction between mesocarnivores and poultry is a significant challenge that has not received sufficient attention. Chile is no exception; few studies suggest that carnivore predation on poultry threatens small‐scale producers and is a nationwide problem. To better assess this conflict, we developed a survey aimed at professionals who work directly with small‐scale farmers across the country to examine the current conflict between native, invasive, and domestic carnivores (dogs and cats) and small‐scale poultry farmers in rural areas of Chile. A staggering 92.4% of professionals surveyed mentioned that small‐scale farmers deal with predation issues, with dogs (with or without owner) being the most frequently mentioned predator (86%), followed by Lycalopex foxes, lesser grison (Galictis cuja) and American mink (Neovison vison). Our results show that confinement, the primary method to prevent predation, could reduce predation event frequency. Despite being illegal, lethal control was mentioned by 36.4% of surveyed professionals as a used method to reduce predation, therefore, representing a potential threat to native carnivores and animal welfare. Addressing poultry predation by native and non‐native carnivores (dog and mink) is a crucial step toward advancing human–mesocarnivore coexistence in Chile.
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spelling doaj-art-ae1611f5da094a59990be3dae0f1d4fc2025-08-20T02:22:40ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542025-06-0176n/an/a10.1111/csp2.70071Poultry–carnivore conflict in Chile: Are we advancing toward effective co‐existence for small wild carnivore conservation?Carolina S. Ugarte0Camila J. Stuardo1Javier Fernández2Constanza Napolitano3Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias mención Conservación y Manejo de Recursos Naturales Universidad de Los Lagos Puerto Montt ChileDepartamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad Universidad de Los Lagos Osorno ChileDepartamento de Extensión, División de Fomento Instituto de Desarrollo Agropecuario Santiago ChileDepartamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Biodiversidad Universidad de Los Lagos Osorno ChileAbstract Human–carnivore conflicts threaten carnivores worldwide; they are an escalating concern for the conservation of carnivores and the well‐being of subsistence farmers. While most of the available information focuses on large carnivores and livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats, the interaction between mesocarnivores and poultry is a significant challenge that has not received sufficient attention. Chile is no exception; few studies suggest that carnivore predation on poultry threatens small‐scale producers and is a nationwide problem. To better assess this conflict, we developed a survey aimed at professionals who work directly with small‐scale farmers across the country to examine the current conflict between native, invasive, and domestic carnivores (dogs and cats) and small‐scale poultry farmers in rural areas of Chile. A staggering 92.4% of professionals surveyed mentioned that small‐scale farmers deal with predation issues, with dogs (with or without owner) being the most frequently mentioned predator (86%), followed by Lycalopex foxes, lesser grison (Galictis cuja) and American mink (Neovison vison). Our results show that confinement, the primary method to prevent predation, could reduce predation event frequency. Despite being illegal, lethal control was mentioned by 36.4% of surveyed professionals as a used method to reduce predation, therefore, representing a potential threat to native carnivores and animal welfare. Addressing poultry predation by native and non‐native carnivores (dog and mink) is a crucial step toward advancing human–mesocarnivore coexistence in Chile.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70071Chiledogsfamily poultryhuman–carnivore conflictpoultry predationwild mesocarnivore conservation
spellingShingle Carolina S. Ugarte
Camila J. Stuardo
Javier Fernández
Constanza Napolitano
Poultry–carnivore conflict in Chile: Are we advancing toward effective co‐existence for small wild carnivore conservation?
Conservation Science and Practice
Chile
dogs
family poultry
human–carnivore conflict
poultry predation
wild mesocarnivore conservation
title Poultry–carnivore conflict in Chile: Are we advancing toward effective co‐existence for small wild carnivore conservation?
title_full Poultry–carnivore conflict in Chile: Are we advancing toward effective co‐existence for small wild carnivore conservation?
title_fullStr Poultry–carnivore conflict in Chile: Are we advancing toward effective co‐existence for small wild carnivore conservation?
title_full_unstemmed Poultry–carnivore conflict in Chile: Are we advancing toward effective co‐existence for small wild carnivore conservation?
title_short Poultry–carnivore conflict in Chile: Are we advancing toward effective co‐existence for small wild carnivore conservation?
title_sort poultry carnivore conflict in chile are we advancing toward effective co existence for small wild carnivore conservation
topic Chile
dogs
family poultry
human–carnivore conflict
poultry predation
wild mesocarnivore conservation
url https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70071
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AT javierfernandez poultrycarnivoreconflictinchileareweadvancingtowardeffectivecoexistenceforsmallwildcarnivoreconservation
AT constanzanapolitano poultrycarnivoreconflictinchileareweadvancingtowardeffectivecoexistenceforsmallwildcarnivoreconservation