THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BILLINGS, Montana — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has given $170,000 to the Montana Livestock Board in part to pay for projects that reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock producers.
Department of Livestock spokesman Steve Merritt says $100,000 of the federal grant will be spent on non-lethal efforts to deter wolf attacks. That includes measures such as carcass removal, range riders, guard dogs and flagging on livestock fences.
The remainder of the grant money will compensate livestock owners for verified wolf damage claims.
The federal money is in addition to $200,000 the state Legislature devoted to predator damage compensation over the next two years.
Merritt says that beginning Oct. 1, the livestock board also will pay for grizzly bear damage claims.