Compensation Available for Nonlethal Wolf Depredation Techniques
Grant funding is currently available to Union County livestock producers for nonlethal wolf depredation prevention measures aimed at minimizing conflicts between wolves and livestock. To be considered for funding, applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 1, 2024.
The Union County Wolf Depredation Compensation Advisory Committee, established in 2012 under the direction of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, administers this program. Funding is provided through the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund.
Over the past several years, the committee has successfully awarded over $155,000 in grant funds to local livestock producers. Past recipients have utilized the funding for a variety of prevention strategies, including fencing, range riders, herders, night pens, livestock guard dogs, and air patrols.
For additional information or to apply, please visit www.union-county.org or contact Annette Powers at (541) 963-1001.
Applications:
Due by November 1:
Due by January 31:
- Wolf Depredation Application – Direct Loss – Category 1
- Wolf Depredation Application – Missing Claims – Category 2
All applications are to be submitted to the Union County Administrative Office, located at 1106 K Avenue in La Grande.
Union County Wolf Depredation Compensation Program
On June 24, 2011 the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3560, which directed the Oregon Department of Agriculture to establish and implement a wolf depredation compensation and financial assistance grant program, using moneys in the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund to provide grants to assist counties to implement county wolf depredation compensation programs.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture’s wolf depredation compensation and financial assistance grant program complements the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Wolf Conservation and Management Plan in the area of developing and maintaining a cooperative livestock producer assistance program that proactively minimizes wolf-livestock conflict and assists livestock producers experiencing wolf-related livestock losses.
Locally, Union County established a Wolf Depredation Compensation Advisory Committee in January, 2012. Members of the seven-person committee include one county commissioner, two members who own or manage livestock, two members who support wolf conservation/coexistence, and two county business representatives agreed upon by the members of the committee.
Grant funding is provided by the Oregon Department of Agriculture to Union County for distribution to livestock producer applicants. Funding is available for producers who have suffered losses within Union County due to wolf depredation and for nonlethal wolf deterrence techniques designed to minimize wolf-livestock conflicts.
Eligible applicants include livestock producers who have suffered losses within Union County attributed to wolf depredation; and livestock producers who desire to implement livestock management techniques or nonlethal wolf deterrence techniques designed to discourage wolf depredation of livestock in Union County.
Eligible expenses include compensation for the cost of livestock management techniques or nonlethal wolf deterrence techniques designed to limit wolf-livestock interactions and discourage wolf depredation of livestock. Previous successful applicants included funding for things such as fencing, fladry, night pens, lighting, speakers, range riders, herders, livestock guard dogs and air patrol.
Applications and Deadlines for Submitting
As long as funding continues to be available from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the deadline for producers submitting applications for nonlethal wolf deterrent techniques is November 1. The deadline for producers submitting applications for death or injury to livestock caused by wolves is January 31 for incidents that occurred from February 1-January 31 of the current reporting period.
Additional information may be obtained by calling (541) 963-1001.