Along the Way Back from the Brink

An optimal control model of wildlife management is developed to analyze the transitory dynamics set forth by the reintroduction of animals that provide benefits but can also come into conflict with humans. The shadow price of these resources can be positive or negative, potentially creating a nonconvexity. The conditions under which reintroduction is not desirable are determined, and those characterizing the initiation of costly population control are investigated. An application to deer management illustrates the relevance of the nonconvexity and the magnitude of losses stemming from delays in implementing optimal management. The impact of distributional concerns on efficiency is discussed.