For many, the image of a cowboy remains rooted in Western folklore: a rugged, self-reliant figure who protects livestock and land from predators and threats. However, over the past 15 years, a new type of range rider has emerged across the American West, focused on fostering coexistence between livestock and predators such as wolves and grizzly bears.

This transformation is occurring within the context of the "New West," where economies have shifted from extraction industries to tourism, technology, and outdoor recreation. Modern range riders may be cattle producers on horseback, wildlife technicians setting trail cameras, or ranch hands operating ATVs. Their duties include assisting with daily livestock management, installing electric fences, and handling deceased animals' carcasses.

Jeff Vance Martin, a research social scientist with the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Research Station, explained, “Range riding can mean a range of things.” These individuals serve as the eyes and ears on the range, monitoring environmental threats and conflicts and relaying information back to producers.

In states like Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, Washington, Arizona, and Colorado, range riders help manage the challenges posed by rebounding populations of wolves and grizzlies. Eric Graham, a former range rider in Montana’s Blackfoot watershed, noted that 15 wolf packs moved through the 1.5 million acres he monitored. He described the difficulty of covering multiple ranches and the stress of livestock losses occurring on different properties.

The return of predators has been difficult for some livestock owners. Matt Barnes, a rancher and rangeland scientist at the Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative, said, “If your ancestors just spent the last 150 years getting rid of wolves and grizzly bears to make the West safe for sheep and cattle, it’s hard to accept that society actually wants wolves and grizzly bears now too.” He added that the reintroduction of wolves can feel like a rejection of cultural history.

Barnes also highlighted tensions when outsiders advise livestock owners on managing their animals, stating, “We can do a lot more to manage livestock than we can to manage predators.”

This evolving role of modern cowboys reflects a broader effort to balance the needs of ranching communities with wildlife conservation in the American West.

Sources

  • Guardian US, "Modern cowboys are saddling up in the US West. And they’re on a whole new mission," Jessica Baltzersen, August 26, 2026, link