Projects and sites
The Carnivore Coexistence Lab core team works on four major challenges to peaceful coexistence between people and large carnivores around the world. We study (1) risk and prevention of predation on domestic animals, (2) risk and protection of human-caused carnivore mortality, (3) the benefits of carnivores for people and for ecosystem health, and (4) the law, ethics, and scientific integrity that underpin our value-based decision to coexist with carnivores. Meet the core team on our People page.
Of late, we have worked or are currently working at the following sites:
Akagera National Park (ANP), Rwanda and surrounding villages >1108 square km: Google map: leopards, lions, and spotted hyenas coexisting with a rural population of small-holder crop farmers and domestic animals and their owners. We have investigated the effect of lion reintroduction on 10 other species (lead Drew Bantlin, anticipated August 2026). More recently, we have begun investigating and evaluating the permeability of the electric fence around ANP, trenches around the military zone, and wetlands for preventing large carnivores from entering farmlands. We are evaluating coexistence strategies with an eye to protecting wild and domestic animals and other human interests (lead: Meghan Hills, MS, anticipated May 2029). Allison Fisher is supporting this project as part of her Masters work (anticipated August 2026). In 2024, we began to explore new collaborative, applied research around ANP working with Rwandan nationals and African Parks, facilitated by Drew Bantlin. In 2025, Meghan and Allison developed a joint plan for research funded by the UW-Madison Graduate School and other anticipated funding.
See this reference list for our latest project proposal, by Meghan and Allison.
Facilitating fieldwork: Drew Bantlin. Report on human-wildlife conflicts and coexistence
Mexican wolves, red wolves, and Western Great Lake region gray wolves. We are conducting survival analyses using historical data on radio-collared wolves to understand the effects of policy changes that tighten or loosen protections for wolves. Lead: Dr. Naomi Louchouarn.
Undergraduate research assistants
Field assistants, see map/treves/wolves_BogPack.html" target="_blank">
Bog Pack & Landowner coexistence projects
Olivia Deering (field director 2024-2025)
Alex Seaborg (field director 2023-present)
Molly O'Neill (2025-present)
Aiden Finn Schneider (2025-present)
Courtney Urbanek (2025-present)
Joey Schwirtz (field director 2023-2024)
Atmospheric Trust Litigation map project & Juliana v USA summarized 2015-2025
Graham Stier (project coordinator 2023-2025)
Amneet Kaur
For UW staff and students, click here for an ct interactive map and one-page explanation of the project. (Requires UW NetID to log in.) Also, for a summary of the ten-year history of Juliana v USA (Youth plaintiffs sue the US government on climate policy, see this report by Amneet Kaur.
Kaari Hostler
Natala Vonarburg
Email atreves at wisc.edu for an example of our work on Constitutional protections for the biosphere and CO2.
Recently completed dissertations and the project sites
Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve Park, Russia 4016 square km: Google map: Tigers: Our project is an ecological experiment to understand if tigers create a landscape of fear in their prey and therefore might influence a trophic cascade in their ecosystems. Lead: Karann Putrevu. Also see Karann's website..
Maasai Mara, Kenya 1510 square km Google map: Cheetahs coexisting with cattle-owning Maasai herders in a mixed-use protected area. Our project is an ecological experiment to evaluate how cheetahs coexist with herders and their livestock. Lead: Dr. Brian Schuh.
Also see this video made atBrian's field site, with his support.
Cimitarra municipality in the Magdalena Medio Valley of Colombia:Google map: Jaguars and pumas coexisting with cattle owners in the tropical Andes. Our project is a gold-standard experiment with Foxlights®. Lead: Dr. Alicia Alexandra Pineda Guerrero.