Union County awards over 53 thousand dollars in non-lethal wolf deterrent grant funds
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, January 8th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION COUNTY – During a regular commission meeting on Wednesday, January 7, the Union County Board of Commissioners officially approved the allocation of $53,196.31 in non-lethal wolf deterrent grant funding. The funds were initially provided to Union County by the Oregon Department of agriculture, with applications being reviewed by the Union County Wolf Depredation Compensation Advisory Committee on December 16, 2025.
According to documentation provided by the county to Elkhorn Media Group, four local applicants requested a combined $59,884.75 to cover non-lethal deterrent measures, with a discrepancy of $6,688.44. All four applications were approved, constituting all remaining funding. Final allocations being reduced by approximately 12% each to compensate for the shortage. As with previous non-lethal deterrent grants, the Oregon Department of Agriculture required funds to be allocated by January 31st, or else be returned.
The recipients of the funds, and the items being requested for funding, include:
- Mike Becker: $28,137.27
- Range rider
- Airplane fuel
- Pilot
- Eric Harlow: $12,148.55
- Extra herder wages
- Expenses
- Extra dog and food
- Cameron Krebs: $9,677.04
- Herder wages
- Extra dogs
- Fencing
- Colby Thompson: $3,640.00
- Range riders
During the meeting, it was commented by commissioners that the proposals were well thought out, and the money will be well spent on the projects. Mike Becker’s request in particular was praised for the assistance it provides to neighboring landowners via providing arial surveillance on local cattle herds and wolf activity.
