Description
Subtitle C of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-11) authorized the Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project (Program) with two purposes: 1) Prevention - Provide funding to assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, nonlethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves; and 2) Compensation - Provide funding to reimburse livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation. Federal financial assistance, provided in the form of grants, can be used to support the implementation of state and tribal programs designed to assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, nonlethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves and to compensate livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation. Included in the authorizing language is direction to award this Federal financial assistance through a competitive grant program and to expend funds equally between the program’s two purposes. Proactive, nonlethal preventive measures eligible for funding include, but are not limited to, fencing, livestock guard dogs, and range riders who patrol areas occupied by livestock susceptible to predation by wolves. Depredation Compensation funding may be used for the reimbursement of livestock losses due to confirmed wolf depredation. Qualifying livestock includes cattle, swine, horses, mules, sheep, goats and livestock guard animals. States and tribes (hereafter, applicants) may apply for Depredation Compensation funding for the reimbursement of livestock losses and/or a Depredation Prevention funding for preventative management activities that occur on Federal, state, or private land, or land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, a tribe. Grants are awarded directly to applicants. Applicants must establish their own procedures for accepting applications from private entities (including individual ranchers, for-profit corporations, and not-for-profit organizations) interested in obtaining Program funds. Those seeking funds will need to work through the procedures established by their state wildlife management/animal damage control agency. Applicants are eligible to compete for either Depredation Compensation or Depredation Prevention funding, or both. Applicants may submit a proposal that includes both activities but each activity will be ranked and considered separately. General Program Funding Priorities Funding priorities are determined pursuant to Section 6202 (d) of P.L. 111-11, as follows: the level of livestock predation in the state or on the land owned by or held in trust for the benefit of the tribe, whether the state or tribe is located in a geographical area that is at high risk for livestock predation and other factors that the Secretary determines appropriate. Further, programs with high percentages of livestock producer participation and that support the utilization of a wide variety of deterrents and techniques will be prioritized for Depredation Prevention. Programs that are robust in terms of investigation management, record keeping and reporting, and public transparency will be prioritized for Depredation Compensation funding. Finally, applicants that have a Depredation Prevention program will be prioritized for Depredation Compensation funding. Complete merit review criteria are provided in Section E. Application Review Information.