Federal Court Blocks Predator Control Operations in Nevada Wilderness.

A federal appeals court has ordered a temporary suspension of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that targets predators such as coyotes and mountain lions in Nevada’s wilderness areas, citing a lack of sufficient environmental review.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the USDA’s Wildlife Services program failed to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Under NEPA, federal activities on public lands must undergo a thorough environmental impact assessment, including opportunities for public comment. Judge Morgan Christen, writing for the court, said the USDA’s review was “deficient in several ways.”

As a result, the program is now prohibited from operating in 65 wilderness areas and 62 wilderness study areas across Nevada. These federally protected lands cover roughly 6.2 million acres—about 9% of the state—and include notable regions like Mount Charleston in Southern Nevada.

The legal case was filed by WildEarth Guardians, a conservation group. Their attorney, Jennifer Schwartz, hailed the decision as a major win for efforts to protect natural ecosystems.

“We are very happy this takes lethal control out of areas that were specifically set aside and protected for the very purpose of ensuring nature can be free to run its course,” Schwartz said.

The USDA’s Wildlife Services has been managing predator populations since the 1880s to protect livestock, using methods such as aerial shootings and body-gripping traps. Its most recent environmental assessment, intended to guide operations over a 10-year span, identified areas where increased predator control was proposed, with a particular focus on coyotes.

Between 2015 and 2020, more than 15,500 coyotes were killed on federal land in Nevada, according to court filings. Most of these lethal operations occurred in northeastern counties, including White Pine, Eureka, Elko, and Humboldt. While Southern Nevada’s Meadow Valley Range and Mormon Mountains were flagged for some activity, they were not among the highest-priority areas.

Schwartz pointed to a growing body of scientific research supporting non-lethal alternatives, such as habitat changes and improved fencing, which can reduce livestock losses without disrupting ecosystems. She also cited a 2012 Sacramento Bee report that found current methods often result in accidental deaths of wildlife and even domestic animals.

“We've been putting them to task because the current science is showing that it's just not effective in terms of protecting livestock long term,” Schwartz said. “There have to be better ways to address the problem.”

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service—named defendants in the lawsuit—did not respond to requests for comment.

The program remains suspended in affected areas until the USDA completes a new, more thorough environmental review.

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-04-court-halts-coyote-nevada.html

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.