Crook, 12 other counties receive wolf depredation funds
The Oregon Department of Agriculture said Monday it has approved$129,664 in funding distributed to 13 counties as part of the Oregon WolfDepredation Compensation and Financial Assistance County Block GrantProgram.
Funds for 2016 have beendistributed for actual livestock lossesor injuries caused by wolves, for missing livestock above the normalhistorical levels in areas of known wolf activity, for proactive effortsto prevent wolf and livestock interactions, and for county wolf programimplementation.
According to the OregonDepartment of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon’s 2015 wolf population increased 36percent from the previous year to 110 wolves.
Wallowa, Umatilla and Bakercounties continued to experience the bulk of the state’s wolf activity and havereceived $101,953 – about 78 percent of the money awarded for 2016.
The state has paid 100percent of the claims submitted to ODA tied to confirmed orprobable livestock losses due to wolves. Livestock owners worked with theOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to document theselosses.
Payments aremade on a reimbursement basis for depredations thatoccurred during the previous grant cycle.
Wallowa, Klamath and Umatillawere the only counties filing claims with ODA that experienced confirmed orprobable livestock losses in the 2015 cycle. These threecounties arebeing awarded $10,614 to compensate affected ranchers for losses due todeath and/or injury.
Wallowa County received $3,887, Klamath Countyreceived $3,796, and Umatilla County received $2,931 for compensation.
Of the totalfunding provided by the block grants this year, $71,500 – or 55percent – is going toward proactive,non-lethal efforts to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock.
County level advisory committees established by the grant program’slegislation requested funds to undertake proactive conflict deterrenceefforts.
Historically, these deterrent techniques include one or more ofthe following activities:
Reducing attractants– bone pile removal,carcass disposal sites
Barriers– fencing, fladry, electrified fladry
Human presence– range riders, herders
Livestock protection dogs and otherguarding animals
Alarm or scare devices–Radio-Activated-Guard (RAG) device, other light and sound making devices
Hazing or harassment of wolves– loudnoises, spotlights, or other confrontation with wolves
Livestock management/husbandry changes–changing pastures, night feeding, reduced calving period, birthingearlier, changing herd structure
Experimental practices– bio-fencing, belling cattle
Public outreach/education for ranchers
A total of $5,335was awarded to nine counties to help with administrative costs.
The following is a listof the total awards made by ODA to counties as part of the Oregon WolfDepredation Compensation and Financial Assistance County Block GrantProgram for the 2016 Grant Period:
Umatilla, $52,778
Wallowa, $26,887
Baker, $22,288
Klamath, $8,796
Union, $5,000
Morrow, $3,675
Lake, $3,000
Crook, $2,000
Wasco, $1,750
Wheeler, $1,250
Sherman, $1,250
Malheur, $495
Jackson, $495
The fund processremains available for counties to address depredations that occur in thefuture. In that event, livestock operators should submit claims to theirlocal county wolf advisory committee.
