Wolf compensation

Wolf compensation

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Northwest rancher Jack Field: "When the Department goes through - even after they check all the boxes and can document that all the steps have been taken to prevent or mitigate impact - whenever lethal force has to happen it always becomes a very divisive and explosive discussion politically and socially. The Department really needs to focus and spend their time and energy educating the general public about what wolf management is and what it takes to manage and recover an apex predator - meaning the Department needs to make sure the public clearly understands that when you're recovering wolves you have to be able to successfully remove problem wolves. "

The Idaho Governor's Office of Species Conservation (OSC) is now accepting applications for verified livestock losses due to wolves during the 2019 calendar year. The deadline for compensation applications is December 31, 2019. Funding has been made available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project Grant Program.

The grant compensates livestock producers for wolf caused livestock losses. The State of Idaho, through OSC, received $90,000 in compensation funding - one of the largest amounts awarded to any state.

Livestock losses must be verified by U.S. Department of Agriculture APHIS-Wildlife Services and accompanied by a completed application provided by OSC. As a condition of receiving compensation, each applicant must show documentation of additional ranch input costs due to wolves totaling 50% non-federal match in the form of either cash or in-kind contributions. For example, documentation of additional riding time to check on livestock when wolves are present within an area, depredation prevention measures implemented, time spent with wildlife experts following a documented depredation, time and equipment used in searching for or gathering livestock after contact with wolves, etc. could qualify as non-federal match.

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