Translocation of merlins to protect endangered Great Lakes piping plovers

Abstract Conflicts between native predators and endangered species pose significant challenges for conservation. The piping plover ( Charadrius melodus ) is a migratory shorebird that breeds in 3 regions of North America. The Great Lakes population, the smallest of the 3, is federally endangered and had only 86 breeding pairs in 2025. This population faces various conservation challenges, including predation by merlins ( Falco columbarius ). We evaluated the potential effectiveness of merlin translocation as a non‐lethal method to reduce predation on piping plovers. We captured and translocated 33 merlins during the 2023 and 2024 breeding seasons. Of these, 28 individuals were equipped with tracking devices to monitor their movements after being translocated 101–404 km from their capture sites. Our findings revealed that 42% of translocated merlins did not return to their capture locations within the same breeding season. We found that sex best explained variation in translocation outcome, followed by age and direction of translocation. Females, younger individuals, and birds translocated to the east were less likely to return. By contrast, translocation distance and season timing had little effect on returns. Although we observed variability in post‐release movements, successfully translocated merlins exhibited delayed and more directional movements compared to those that returned. These results highlight the potential of predator translocation to alleviate predation pressure on endangered species, but challenges such as moderate success rate relative to cost and effort remain. We provide evidence‐based recommendations for refining predator management strategies, emphasizing the importance of adaptive approaches to balance species recovery and ecosystem functionality.