Are big teeth worth all the hype? Large carnivores are iconic species, capturing the attention of the public and scientists alike. Society holds highly divergent views over if and how we should coexist with carnivores; a view that is mirrored by scientists’ diverse views on the potential transformative role these species play in ecosystems. Drawing on cases studies from East Africa and the Rocky Mountains, I will discuss evidence for top-down control of ecosystems by large carnivores and measures taken to facilitate coexistence in human-dominated landscapes.

The Natural Resources & Environmental Studies Institute (NRESi) at UNBC hosts a weekly lecture series at the Prince George campus. Anyone from the university or wider community with interest in the topic area is welcome to attend. Presentations are also made available to remote participants through Livestream and Blue Jeans. Go to http://www.unbc.ca/nres-institute/colloquium-webcasts to view the presentation remotely.

Past NRESi colloquium presentations and special lectures can be viewed on our video archive, available here.