Deschutes County accepts $32,000 state grant to compensate ranchers who lost livestock or dogs to wolf depredation

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to accept more than $32,000 in grant funds from the Oregon Department of Agriculture for the county's new Wolf Depredation and Financial Compensation program.

The grant funds, totaling $32,620.75, will be used to reimburse ranchers whose livestock or working dogs have been confirmed to be missing, injured, or killed due to wolf depredation. The funds will also go towards the implementation of livestock management techniques and other preventative measures that discourage wolf depredation of livestock.

“This is the first grant awarded to the county since it established the Wolf Depredation and Financial Assistance Committee last May,” said county Commissioner Phil Chang, chair of the committee.

"These funds will help reduce conflicts between livestock producers and wolves returning to Deschutes County through direct compensation for losses and by supporting work with ranchers to prevent future depredation.”

ODA offers the grant once a year to counties that have an established committee to oversee wolf depredation compensation and assistance for preventative measures. County commissioners established a Wolf Depredation and Financial Compensation Committee in May of last year. The committee has been meeting regularly since June.