Losing stock to wolves and bears was why we used to have shepherds, shepherd dogs, fences etc, at least in Europe.
Eradicating predators created a very convenient, intermittent period where this was less of a necessity, but it also had quite negative externalities.
So the question isn't "is the greater good more important than the people who live there?", but more "is the greater good more important than the convenience of some people who live there?"
This is a question we have to ask ourselves a lot; nobody wants to live near a landfill, a prison, a sewage treatment plant etc, and yet we want them for the greater good.
Convenience, lifestyle and the ability to hire fewer people (keeping more money). If it doesn’t make money after expenses, get a second or third job like most artisans.
Eradicating predators created a very convenient, intermittent period where this was less of a necessity, but it also had quite negative externalities.
So the question isn't "is the greater good more important than the people who live there?", but more "is the greater good more important than the convenience of some people who live there?"
This is a question we have to ask ourselves a lot; nobody wants to live near a landfill, a prison, a sewage treatment plant etc, and yet we want them for the greater good.