Eric Mortenson
Capital Press
The money pays for measures that deter wolves from attacking livestock.
A $53,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be used to deter wolves from attacking livestock in Northeastern Oregon counties.
The grant, awarded to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, is in addition to about $200,000 provided by the Legislature. The larger amount can be used to compensate producers whose livestock is killed, hurt or goes missing due to wolf attacks, but the new grant is strictly for prevention measures.
The state ag department allocates the money to counties that have wolf problems, with most of it going to Wallowa, Umatilla, Baker and Union counties. The grant money can be used to pay range riders, remove bone piles and carcasses that attract wolves, put up fencing or fladry systems and for other purposes.