Research

CWIP engages in original research in the field of wolf-livestock conflict and conflict mitigation. Our current projects involve the analysis of wolf-livestock conflict patterns over a 10-year period in Idaho and Montana, utilizing wolf depredation investigation reports produced by WildlIfe Services.

CWIP's current research efforts

CWIP's current research efforts are focused on wolf-livestock conflict and conflict reduction. We are developing a novel approach for studying wolf-livestock conflict patterns over time and in particular locations, utilizing as our primary database records of wolf depredation investigations conducted by federal and state officials. We currently are analyzing depredation investigation data from Idaho for the period of 2014 through 2022. CWIP has pending Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for data from the years 2023 and 2024 and, once received, we will be analyzing and reporting findings from 2014 through 2024. 

Our eventual goal is to obtain and analyze investigation data beginning in 1996, the year wolves were reintroduced to the Northern Rockies, and to make available to the public all depredation investigation data from all states where wolves are present. We having pending FOIA requests with Wildlife Services for investigation reports from 1996 through 2013.  

We obtained the wolf depredation investigation reports that form the basis of our research through FOIA requests to the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Wildlife Services. They are now matters of public record and in the spirit of openness we are making them available to the scientific community. If you would like to receive PDF copies of the Idaho and Montana investigation report forms, please send email us at coloradowolfinfoproject@pm.me. And we'd love to hear about your research interests!

  • Idaho Study

    Our preliminary analyses of the Idaho data are revealing some interesting and unexpected findings. While we anticipate having our Idaho study completed by the end of Summer 2025, we want to share some of our initial findings with you here. The sample analyses provided here are based on raw data extracted from 1353 Idaho wolf depredation investigation reports, covering the period of 2014 through 2022. The data is incomplete, has not gone through a final cleaning process, and is not for publication or reproduction elsewhere. 

  • Montana Study

    We are currently in the data entry process for the more than 800 Montana depredation investigation reports we have received from Wildlife Services, covering the period of 2016 through 2024. As with the Idaho reports, if you would like to receive PDF copies of the investigation report forms, please send us an email.

  • Wolf Depredation Investigation Report Forms

    Wildlife Services personnel participate in wolf depredation investigations in states where wolf-livestock conflicts occur. CWIP obtained, through a FOIA request, sample copies of the wolf depredation investigation report forms used by Wildlife Services. If you would like to receive PDF copies of the sample investigation report forms, please send us an email.