The Oregon Department of Agriculture, working with Governor Kitzhaber’s office, has approved $150,830 in funding distributed to eight counties east of the Cascade Mountains as part of the Oregon Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance County Block Grant Program.
Funds for 2014 have been distributed for actual livestock losses or injuries caused by wolves, for missing livestock above the normal historical levels in areas of known wolf activity, for proactive efforts to prevent wolf and livestock interactions, and for county wolf program implementation.
Oregon’s wolf population increased in both distribution and abundance in 2013. By the end of the year, the wolf population was estimated to be at least 64 wolves in 8 packs, a 33 percent increase from the previous year.
Wallowa, Umatilla and Baker counties– three counties experiencing the bulk of the state’s wolf activity– have received $134,860, or approximately 90 percent, of the money awarded for 2014.
The state has paid 100 percent of the claims submitted to ODA tied to confirmed or probable livestock losses due to wolves. Livestock owners worked with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to document these losses. Payments are made on a reimbursement basis for depredations that occurred during the previous grant cycle. Wallowa and Umatilla were the only two counties that experienced confirmed or probable livestock losses in the 2013 cycle and were awarded $8,482 in 2014 to compensate affected ranchers for those losses. Wallowa County received $7,482 while Umatilla County received $1,000 for compensation.
Of the total funding provided by the block grants this year, $105,500– or 70 percent– is going towards proactive, non-lethal efforts to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock. County level advisory committees established by the program’s legislation requested funds to undertake proactive conflict deterrence efforts. Historically, these deterrent techniques include one or more of the following activities:
Reducing Attractants– Bone pile removal, carcass disposal sites
Barriers– Fencing, fladry, electrified fladry
Human Presence– Range Riders, Herders or other guarding
Livestock Protection Dogs and Other Guarding Animals
Alarm or Scare Devices– Radio-Activated-Guard (RAG) Device, other light and sound making devices
Hazing or Harassment of Wolves– Loud noises, spotlights, or other confrontation with wolves
Livestock Management/Husbandry Changes– Changing pastures, night feeding, reduced calving period, birthing earlier, changing herd structure
Experimental Practices– Bio-fencing, belling cattle
The year 2014 marks the first time that ODA was able to use funds from a $63,125 wolf-livestock demonstration grant awarded by US Fish and Wildlife Service in September 2013. For 2014, $4,241 of this federal grant was used for depredation losses and $51,875 was used for nonlethal preventative awards.
A total of $2,970 was awarded to six counties to help with county implementation costs.
The following is a list of the total awards made by ODA to counties as part of the Oregon Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance County Block Grant Program for the 2014 Grant Period:
Wallowa– $65,253
Umatilla– $39.675
Baker– $31,777
Union– $5,000
Morrow– $3,675
Crook– $3,000
Wheeler– $2,000
Malheur– $450
The fund process remains available for counties to address depredations that occur in the future. In that event, livestock operators should submit claims to their local county advisory committee.