Union County approves $101,832 for wolf compensation funds
By Joe Hathaway on Thursday, May 2nd, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE — Union County officials have approved more state funds to compensate ranchers for dead and missing livestock.
The county commission approved a $101,832 grant from the Oregon Department of Agriculture to pay for livestock losses and preventative measures to deter wolves. The vote was held at the county commissioners meeting on Wednesday, May 1.
Commissioner Donna Beverage says it’s the largest sum Union County has ever received to alleviate ranchers whose livestock have been killed by wolves.
Beverage says the grant will support compensation for missing livestock in areas with documented wolf presence, and it will also facilitate investments in non-lethal deterrents and prevention techniques such as fladry, loud noises, and enhanced fencing to mitigate conflicts between wolves and livestock.
With the new funding, the compensation for missing livestock through the ODA’s Wolf Compensation Grants is contingent upon specific criteria. It applies to areas designated as high wolf areas and requires evidence of increased livestock losses attributed to wolf predation. Compensation is calculated based on the difference between historical livestock losses before and after the presence of wolves, excluding losses unrelated to wolf predation, such as natural causes or accidents.
You can find more detailed information on the wolf compensation program on the county’s website.
