Wolf and grizzly bear caused livestock mortalities can have a significant effect on individual producers in certain areas. To help offset or minimize this, the State of Idaho has two programs to help producers.
COMPENSATION
The Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation (OSC) is currently accepting claims from Idaho producers for livestock depredations due to wolves and grizzly bears during the 2025 calendar year. The deadline for compensation claims is December 31, 2025. Funding has been made available and was allocated to OSC through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project Grant Program (WLLDP) and Idaho House Bill 592. The program compensates livestock producers for wolf and grizzly bear caused livestock depredations that have been investigated and validated by a State Authorized Investigator. Compensation payments for the 2025 grazing season will be based on the average market rate for livestock.
For additional information and to receive claim forms, please contact Joshua Uriarte, (208) 332-1556 or joshua.uriarte@osc.idaho.gov.
PREVENTION
OSC is currently accepting applications to provide Idaho livestock producers with proactive measures to help reduce or prevent wolf and grizzly bear livestock conflicts in the upcoming 2026 grazing season. Producers are encouraged to submit applications with projects and ideas between November 21, 2025 and March 1, 2026. Applications submitted outside that period will be considered on a case-by-case basis, based on available funding.
OSC recognizes that each livestock operation is different with its own unique set of challenges. As a result, some methods will be better suited for certain operations than others and, in some cases, a combination of techniques and methods may be needed to achieve success.
OSC, in collaboration with interested livestock producers, the Idaho Cattlemen’s Association, Idaho Wool Growers Association, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, Idaho State Department of Agriculture and Idaho Department of Fish and Game, will help producers implement any and/or all the following methods on a case-by-case basis in the hopes of decreasing the likelihood of wolf-livestock conflict:
Guard dogs
Range riders
Permanent electric fence
Guard dog food
Scare devices (fladry, fox lights, noise makers)
Trail Cameras
Temporary fencing, pens, and sheds
Other effective prevention measures
For additional information and to receive application forms, please contact Austin Terrell, (208) 571-2052 or austin.terrell@osc.idaho.gov.
