Posted opportunity — confirm at source

Wolf-Livestock Compensation Grant Program

Department of Fish and Wildlife · 80909

Eligibility details

Eligible applicants for direct loss of livestock (death, injury) must have had a confirmed or probable wolf depredation on or after July 1, 2024, as determined during a depredation investigation and documented in a CDFW Determination Form.

Matching funds & resources

Source matching-funds field: Not Required.

Matching funds and leveraged resources are different requirements. Read the description and reviewed rules below before determining resource commitments.

About this opportunity

The Wolf-Livestock Compensation Grant Program has three “prongs”, or potential grant opportunities, for eligible applicants: direct loss compensation, nonlethal deterrent methods support, and indirect loss compensation. This grant opportunity involves the first prong, direct loss compensation, in which producers can be compensated for direct livestock loss (death, injury) due to confirmed or probable wolf depredation. Wolf depredation is determined during an investigation and documented by CDFW on a Livestock Loss Determination form. Each reported depredation incident is unique and requires a case-by-case analysis of the evidence, context, and other factors that inform the determination process. CDFW strives to conduct investigations as soon as reasonably possible to preserve physical evidence and gather information from producers and potential eyewitnesses. Wolf depredation is “confirmed” when there is physical evidence that an animal was injured or killed by a wolf and “probable” when there is sufficient evidence to suggest wolf predation (e.g., evidence of predation and evidence that wolves were likely present at the time of injury or death), but not enough evidence to confirm it. Upon issuance of compensation for a direct loss, producers will be expected to consult with the Department to evaluate and implement a deterrent strategy that may be beneficial in reducing wolf-livestock conflict. The deterrent tools and/or actions implemented as part of this strategy may be eligible for compensation under the program’s second prong, if and when sufficient funds are available.

Funding geography: There is no geographic restriction for eligibility. However, applicants must have had a confirmed or probable wolf depredation on or after July 1, 2024, as determined during a depredation investigation and documented on a CDFW Livestock Loss Determination form.

Funding instrument: Grant. Issuing jurisdiction: California. This is not a geographic eligibility determination.