In 2021, the California state legislature appropriated funding to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to “develop a grant process to allocate funds to pay for the deterrence of wolf presence near livestock, the impacts of wolf presence on livestock, and for verified loss of livestock for participating ranchers.”
The Department has launched a Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program to support all three areas of need (prongs) of this legislative directive: payments for the impacts of wolf presence on livestock, compensation for livestock loss, and nonlethal methods to deter wolf presence from livestock. This program aims to help minimize the impacts wolves have on livestock producers in California. During development of this program, the Department received recommendations from diverse subject matter experts, agency partners, livestock producers, and other interested parties.
Eligible livestock producers may apply for compensation retroactive from September 23, 2021. The program will remain in effect until June 30, 2026, or until all funds are exhausted. Apply now!