F26AS00088 Endangered Species Conservation – Wolf Livestock Loss Compensation and Prevention

The Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project Grant Program, authorized under Subtitle C of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, provides federal financial assistance to states and tribes for two primary purposes: depredation prevention and depredation compensation. Depredation prevention funding supports livestock producers in implementing proactive, nonlethal strategies to reduce the risk of livestock losses from wolf depredation. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, installing fencing, employing livestock-guarding dogs, and using range riders to patrol areas where livestock are vulnerable to wolf activity. Depredation compensation funding reimburses livestock producers for losses resulting from confirmed or probable wolf depredation events. Eligible livestock include cattle, swine, horses, mules, sheep, goats, and livestock-guarding animals. States and tribes may apply for reimbursement of livestock losses and/or funding for preventive management activities occurring on Federal, state, private, or tribal lands, including land owned by or held in trust for a tribe.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must affirm their commitment to maintaining constructive working relationships with livestock producers and to administering their programs in a manner that is responsive to producer needs and supports continued livestock grazing and production, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law (see Project Narrative section). · To be eligible to receive a grant pursuant to P. · L. 111-11, a state or tribe must:(1) designate an appropriate agency of the state or tribal government to administer one or both aspects of the program funded by the grant;(2) establish one or more accounts to receive grant funds;(3) maintain files of all claims received under programs funded by the grant, including supporting documentation;(4) submit to the appropriate FWS Regional Contact (A) annual reports that include: (i) a summary of claims and expenditures under the program during the year; and (ii) a description of any action taken on the claims; and (B) such other reports as the Secretary may be required to assist in determining the effectiveness of activities provided assistance under this program; and(5) promulgate rules for reimbursing livestock producers under the program. Additionally, to qualify for depredation compensation funding, a state or tribe must: Ensure proper documentation, retain receipts, and record matching funds expended. · Have the ability to protect the evidence of depredation. · Coordinate with local United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)-Wildlife Services field representatives, or other authorized official, who will coordinate an investigation. · Document payments to ensure fair-market value. · Further, to qualify depredation prevention funding, a state or tribe must: Ensure proper documentation, retain receipts, and record matching funds expended. · Ensure applicant demonstration of good faith effort to avoid conflicts. · Demonstrate effectiveness of non-lethal measures. · Finally, applicants must have expended all funds awarded through this grant program from FY 2022 and earlier to be eligible to apply for funding through this opportunity.

Awards to eligible State and Indian tribes will be made as grants based on (1) the level of livestock predation in the State or on the land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, the Indian tribe; (2) whether the State or Indian tribe is located in a geographic area that is at high risk for livestock predation; (3) any other factors that the Secretary of the Interior determines appropriate.

Qualifying projects must include at a minimum a 50 percent non-Federal cost share. The cost share may be cash or a third party in-kind contribution, such as volunteer efforts and donations of goods or services.

Fiscal year 2025: Program has not yet awarded funds. Program received applications from ten states and one Tribe and recommended at least partial funding to all applicants. Program recommending funding to states and tribes?to assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, nonlethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves and to reimburse livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation. Funding obligated in FY25 was in support of applications funding in FY24. Fiscal year 2026: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates providing federal financial assistance to states and tribes?to assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, nonlethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves and to reimburse livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation