Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Committee

Deschutes County Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Committee

in May 2023, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners appointed 5-members to the Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Committee. The Board appointed the members to meet bi-yearly and on an as needed basis and to be tasked with the following:

1. Establishing a procedure by which persons applying for compensation will provide sufficient evidence of actual livestock and/or working dog losses attributed to wolf depredation.
2. Establishing a procedure by which persons applying for financial assistance for the cost of livestock management or nonlethal deterrence provides an estimate of the potential cost.
3. Establishing compensation rates for livestock or working dog losses from death, injury or missing all of which are attributed to wolf depredation.
4. Distributing grant program funds.
5. Preparing an annual report to ODA.

Panel Members

The committee is comprised of 5 members listed in the table below.

Background

In 2011, the State Legislature created the Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Grant Program, which is administered by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). Through this program, ODA provides pass-through grants to counties to establish and implement county wolf depredation compensation programs.

ODA’s Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Grant Program complements and supports Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wolf Conservation and Management Plan by working to proactively minimize wolf-livestock conflict and assist livestock producers experiencing wolf-related livestock losses.

As part of the ODA program each county in Oregon can decide to participate in the Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Grant Program. In order to participate the state requires that a committee be established before a grant application is submitted.

On August 31, 2022 the Deschutes Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the formation of a Wolf Depredation Compensation and Finance Assistance Committee (hereinafter referred to as the “Wolf Depredation Committee”).

Meeting Information

Public Comment

To provide public comments and for inquires regarding the Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Committee, please send an email to jen.patterson@deschutes.org.

*The Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Charter defines the committee's roles and responsibilities, as well as their mission, composition, and standard protocols.