Wallowa County Urges Ranchers to File for Compensation, Even If Funding Is Short

ENTERPRISE– Wallowa County officials are encouraging livestock producers to file for compensation after wolf losses—even if reimbursement funds appear limited.

At the County Commission meeting, Wallowa County Commissioner Lisa Collier emphasized that low reporting could impact future funding. “If we don’t report the real numbers, we won’t get the right amount allocated,” she said.

A recent discussion of Senate Bill 777 revealed that Wallowa County only submits claims for about 6% of actual losses. Commissioners believe improving documentation could help build a case for expanded support in future state budgets.

Cynthia Warnock, Administrator of the Compensation Committee, said one of the main hurdles ranchers face is that by the time a livestock loss is discovered, predators have often scavenged the remains, making it impossible to determine the cause of death. “When that happens, ranchers don’t submit the loss for compensation because there is not enough left to confirm it was killed by a wolf,” she explained. Compensation can only be made with confirmed and probable kills. 

However, if enough of the carcass is left to analyze, producers are urged to contact one of several agencies—such as the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, or Wildlife Services—to investigate and confirm the cause. Warnock noted that this can be especially challenging when livestock are grazing in remote areas where response times from agencies can be delayed due to distance.

Once a death is confirmed to be wolf related, paperwork is provided by Warnock, reviewed with the rancher, and officially submitted for reimbursement. County leaders hope increased awareness and participation in the process will help justify future funding increases for wolf damage compensation.

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Elkhorn Media Group