Department of Agriculture
Chapter 603
Division 19
WOLF DEPREDATION COMPENSATION AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
603-019-0015
Standards to Determine Grant Award Eligibility
(1) The Department will consider applications for funds from the Trust Fund from county programs that meet the stated purpose of this rule and contain the elements specified in this section.
(2) Grants are subject to available funding in the Trust Fund. A county may qualify for a grant if a county has a county program that meets the following requirements:
(a) A county must establish a county advisory committee to oversee the county program.
(A) Advisory committee membership shall include:
(i) One county commissioner;
(ii) Two members who own or manage livestock; and
(iii) Two members who support wolf conservation or coexistence with wolves.
(B) Once established, the county advisory committee shall agree upon two county business representatives to serve as additional county advisory committee members.
(b) A county must establish a procedure by which livestock owners and managers experiencing above expected death or injury to livestock or working dogs attributed to wolf depredation shall be given priority by the committee for grant moneys received under the County Program.
(c) A county program must require that an advisory committee must establish compensation rates for death or injury to livestock or working dogs attributable to wolf depredation, that are based on fair market value. Compensation for death or injury of livestock or working dogs takes priority over compensation for missing livestock.
(d) A county program must require that within an area of known wolf activity, a county advisory committee must establish compensation rates for missing livestock attributable to wolf depredation. To qualify for compensation for missing livestock producers must document that other possible causes for their animals to be missing, not including wolf depredation, have been eliminated for the number of missing animals they are claiming. Compensation for missing livestock may be at a lower value than compensation for death or injury as allowed in 603-019-0015(2)(c) at the discretion of the county advisory committee. Losses confirmed as due to wolf depredation shall be given priority over losses for missing livestock.
(e) A county program must establish eligibility requirements for compensation that ensures, contingent upon available funds, that:
(A) In order to consider awarding any compensation for death or injury to livestock or working dogs, or missing livestock and working dogs attributed to wolf depredation, the county advisory committee must determine that the person did not unreasonably or purposefully create circumstances that attract wolves or encourage conflict between wolves and livestock or working dogs, excluding accepted normal husbandry and grazing activities.
(B) Compensation for documented death or injury to livestock or working dogs that is attributed to wolf depredation that occurred outside an area of known wolf activity shall be compensated regardless of the preexistence of wolf deterrence techniques.
(C) Compensation for documented death or injury to livestock or working dogs that is attributed to wolf depredation that occurred within an area of known wolf activity shall be compensated if owners have demonstrated implementation of best management practices to deter wolves including reasonable non-lethal methods when practicable.
(D) Compensation for missing livestock or working dogs that is attributed to wolf depredation that occurred within an area of known wolf activity may be granted if owners document that other possible causes for their animals to be missing, not including wolf depredation, have been eliminated for the number of missing animals they are claiming.
(f) A county program must distribute grant program funds, to the extent possible, in an equal and balanced manner between payments to compensate for death or injury to livestock or working dogs attributed to wolf depredation and payments to implement livestock management techniques or nonlethal wolf deterrence techniques designed to discourage wolf depredation of livestock, with a minimum of 30% of a county's grant funds, as distributed by the Department to that county, distributed for livestock management techniques or nonlethal wolf deterrence techniques designed to discourage wolf depredation of livestock.
(g) The county must contribute an amount of money equal to 10% of the allowable expenditures necessary to implement the county program during the calendar year. Allowable expenditures are:
(A) Establishing a county advisory committee.
(B) Establishing a procedure by which persons applying for compensation will provide sufficient evidence of actual livestock and/or working dog losses attributed to wolf depredation.
(C) Establishing a procedure by which persons applying for financial assistance for the cost of livestock management or nonlethal deterrence provides an estimate of the potential cost.
(D) Establishing compensation rates for livestock or working dog losses from death, injury or missing all of which are attributed to wolf depredation.
(E) Distributing grant program funds.
(F) Preparation of an annual report to the Department.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 610.150
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 610.155
History:
DOA 11-2023, minor correction filed 03/24/2023, effective 03/24/2023
DOA 25-2011, f. & cert. ef. 12-28-11