Data from: Characterization of puma-livestock conflicts in rangelands of central Argentina

Livestock predation is one of the major causes of conflicts between humans and pumas (Puma concolor). Using data from interviews to ranchers and kill-site inspections, we characterized puma-livestock conflicts in Villarino and Patagones counties of central Argentinean rangelands. Depredation was considered the major cause of livestock losses, and puma attacks were reported in 46.6% and 35.4% of ranches in Villarino and Patagones, respectively. The majority of ranches underwent losses smaller than 1000 USD. The proportion of livestock lost to predation (0.1-10.4%) and financial losses (5.3-1560.4 USD) per ranch/year varied across ranches and small sheep ranches in Villarino were affected the most. Depredation was recorded only at night and preferentially in grassland with shrubs and cropland habitats. Although nocturnal enclosures appeared to decrease sheep losses, puma hunting was considered the most effective form of reducing depredation and was implemented by most ranchers. Mortality rates were 3.7 and 1.1-1.56 individuals/year x 100km2 for sheep and pumas, respectively. Nocturnal fencing, shepherding and spatial separation from predators may efficiently reduce sheep losses. However, the poor association between the intensity of puma persecution and puma-related livestock losses suggests that conflict mitigation in central Argentina is not only about reducing damage but also about increasing tolerance.牲畜捕食是人类与美洲狮（Puma concolor）之间冲突的主要诱因之一。本研究借助对牧场主的访谈数据与捕杀现场勘查结果，对阿根廷中部牧场区域的比利亚里诺（Villarino）县和巴塔戈内斯（Patagones）县内的美洲狮-牲畜冲突特征进行了刻画。捕食被认定为牲畜损失的主要原因，比利亚里诺县与巴塔戈内斯县分别有46.6%和35.4%的牧场报告过美洲狮袭击事件。多数牧场的年损失额低于1000美元。各牧场因捕食损失的牲畜占比（0.1%~10.4%）及单牧场年度经济损失（5.3~1560.4美元）存在显著差异，其中比利亚里诺县的小型绵羊牧场受影响最为严重。捕食行为仅在夜间被记录，且优先发生在灌丛草原与农田生境中。尽管夜间围栏似乎可降低绵羊损失，但多数牧场主仍认为捕杀美洲狮是减少捕食事件的最有效手段，并付诸实施。绵羊与美洲狮的种群死亡率分别为3.7只/年·100km²与1.1~1.56只/年·100km²。夜间围栏、放牧管护以及与捕食者的空间隔离，均可有效降低绵羊损失。然而，美洲狮捕杀强度与美洲狮相关牲畜损失之间的相关性较弱，这表明阿根廷中部的冲突缓解工作不仅需要减少损失，还需提升人类对美洲狮的容忍度。