Wildlife on farms: Challenges and benefits of coexistence

Farmers are increasingly realizing that wildlife isn't a threat to productivity—it's a vital partner in building resilient, self-regulating farms. In this panel from Regenerative Skills, three farmers from Italy, Slovenia, and California share how intentionally integrating wildlife has transformed their operations. Marco from Italy uses livestock guardian dogs to manage wolves, which paradoxically reduces disease transmission in his herd. Andy in Slovenia leverages bird boxes and natural corridors to attract insect-eating birds that control olive fly and caterpillar pests—without pesticides. Benjamin, working in California, describes how pulling back fences to create wildlife corridors actually reduced deer pressure while boosting biodiversity. The unifying theme? Patience. It takes 5 to 7 years for ecosystems to rebalance, but once they do, nature provides pest control, soil health, and even self-medication for livestock. The most powerful insight? Stop trying to 'fix' nature—observe it instead. As one farmer put it: 'Don’t do anything if you’re not sure.' The real work isn’t in domination, but in becoming a steward of interconnected life. The episode dismantles the myth that farms must be sterile, tidy, and controlled. Instead, it champions 'messiness'—untidy grass, dead wood piles, and wild edges—as essential infrastructure. These aren’t flaws; they’re habitats that attract pollinators, predators, and soil microbes.