The emerging need to manage scavenged wildlife resources

Samantha M.L. Maher, Tyler Kjorstad, Kailin Kroetz, Van Butsic, Arthur D. Middleton

Scavenged wildlife products are a unique variety of common pool wildlife resources that are collected without killing or capturing the animal, and their collection is understudied and potentially underregulated relative to their conservation significance. The separability of these products from the animals that produce them complicates efforts to link their harvest to future resource availability, resulting in a lack of active management. However, these resources are gaining popularity as online markets cater to a growing global demand for niche animal products. A notable example is naturally shed antlers, collected by “shed hunters” from wild herds for both personal and commercial use. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), home to the largest migratory cervid populations in the lower 48 states, shed hunting’s growing popularity has created a potential common-pool resource dilemma. We surveyed shed hunters before and after a key policy change in Wyoming and uncovered a diverse array of recreational and commercial values for antler collection. Our results show that resource users are experiencing externalities from increased congestion and indicate strong overall support for active management, though participants differed in their preferred approaches. For the first time, we explore the social dynamics and management preferences of scavenged resource user groups and highlight important complexities related to management. Notably, we emphasize the importance of the separability of the resource from the animal, a key characteristic of scavenged resources, when considering management approaches. Specifically, approaches like seasons designed to reduce overlap of resource use and wildlife during key periods could support recreational opportunities while reducing disturbances to wildlife.