steve primm, carnivore conflict reduction manager
Steve joined Heart of the Rockies Initiative in 2024, building on 30 years’ experience in carnivore-human conflict reduction work. He has worked with rural communities to develop, apply, and improve tools and practices for reducing conflicts between people and large carnivores. He leverages this experience by developing policies and incentives to ensure that coexistence practices will be effectively adopted at meaningful scales. Steve has a Masters degree in environmental policy from the University of Colorado, and has completed numerous leadership trainings. He has published on carnivore conflicts in journals like Conservation Biology and Ursus, as well as contributing chapters to books on conservation. When he’s not immersed in carnivore conflict reduction, Steve may (or may not!) be found roaming Montana’s high country on foot, or training with his local Search & Rescue unit to be ready for emergencies on land or water.
What led you to choose a career in conservation?
I grew up in a farming family in the midwest, so family-scale, sustainable agriculture has always been something I’ve been keenly interested in and familiar with – the practice and the people. I was also very passionate about wildlife growing up. When I arrived in the Rocky Mountain West and learned about the conflict on the landscape that can arise around recovered grizzly bear and wolf populations, I became really interested in that story. Having grown up with livestock and in a farm family and having a passion for wildlife and then learning that these two things I value so much could come into conflict, carnivore conflict prevention became a very personal interest for me.
What inspires you in your daily work at Heart of the Rockies Initiative?
I’m inspired by the wide range of partners I have the opportunity to work with — from agricultural producers to agency staff — who are willing to roll up their sleeves and tackle problems in a truly collaborative way.
When you’re not working, how do you engage with the people, lands, or wildlife of the transboundary Rocky Mountains?
I love to get out and explore in the region. I’ve been placing and monitoring wildlife cameras for many years – to support academic research and also as a hobby – and that is something I really enjoy. It’s fun to get a glimpse into the lives of these wild creatures without bothering them at all (well, aside from what seems like annoyance or curiosity in some animals at the red lights on some camera models). The fact that you never know what you’re going to capture keeps the project really engaging.
photo share
Madison Valley stormy skies
