Working Together: Optimal Control of Wolf Management Across Multiple States

The reintroduction of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) has been largely successful in the upper Rocky Mountain region (URM). This led the federal government to hand over the responsibility of managing the species to the individual states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. As each state currently works mainly independently, this study examines if there are any spillover effects to jointly managing wolves in the region. We develop theoretical optimal control and system dynamics bioeconomic models to determine the steady states for the number of wolves, their management, and corresponding net benefits for Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and the region as a whole from 2000 to 2030. Results from the models show potential benefits when states work together in the form of greater economic efficiencies in management and potentially larger wolf populations. Using a system dynamics model, we find the optimal management path under three different management scenarios with the possibility of improving net benefits by almost $1 million per year when states work together. Our results provide meaningful insights for policymakers which could potentially impact how states approach management of a species that can be both expensive and controversial.