ORS 610.150: Wolf predation loss compensation program; county qualification; rules; report.

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Area of known wolf activity” means an area designated by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife as having known wolf activity. (b) “Livestock” means ratites, psittacines, horses, mules, jackasses, cattle, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, swine, bison, domesticated fowl and any fur-bearing animal bred and maintained commercially, or otherwise, within pens, cages or hutches. (c) “Working dog” means any animal of the species Canis familiaris used to aid in the herding or guarding of livestock. (2) The State Department of Agriculture shall establish and implement a wolf depredation compensation and financial assistance grant program, using moneys in the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund established under ORS 610.155, to provide grants to assist counties to implement county programs under which: (a) Compensation is provided to persons who suffer probable or confirmed loss or injury to livestock or working dogs due to wolf depredation; and (b) Financial assistance is provided to persons who implement livestock management techniques or nonlethal wolf deterrence techniques designed to discourage wolf depredation of livestock. (3) Subject to available funding in the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund established under ORS 610.155, a county qualifies for a grant if the county: (a) Establishes a county program to provide compensation and financial assistance as described in subsection (2) of this section. (b) Contributes an amount of moneys equal to 10 percent of the amount necessary to implement, during the calendar year, the county program. (c) Establishes procedures by which persons who: (A) Are applying for compensation, as described in subsection (2)(a) of this section, provide evidence of the probable or confirmed loss or injury to livestock or working dogs due to wolf depredation, including a finding by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife or the department’s designated agent that wolf depredation was the probable cause of the loss or injury. (B) Are applying for financial assistance, as described in subsection (2)(b) of this section, provide an estimate of the potential cost of any livestock management techniques or nonlethal wolf deterrence techniques the person plans to use. (d) Establishes a county advisory committee to oversee the county program, consisting of one county commissioner, two members who own or manage livestock and two members who support wolf conservation or coexistence with wolves. The county advisory committee, once established by the county, shall agree upon two county business representatives to serve as additional county advisory committee members. (4) In accordance with the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, the Director of Agriculture shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section, including rules that require participating counties to: (a) Prioritize awarding grants to livestock owners and managers experiencing above-normal probable or confirmed loss or injury to livestock or working dogs due to wolf depredation. (b) Prepare annual reports that describe the counties’ actions taken under the county grant programs, including the amounts provided as compensation and financial assistance, as described in subsection (2) of this section. (c) Distribute grant program funds, to the extent possible, in an equal and balanced manner between compensation and financial assistance, as described in subsection (2) of this section, with a minimum of 50 percent of grant program funds being distributed for financial assistance, as described in subsection (2)(b) of this section. (d) Allow county advisory committees described in subsection (3)(d) of this section to determine an amount of compensation, as described in subsection (2)(a) of this section, for each probable or confirmed loss or injury to a livestock animal or working dog due to wolf depredation that is: (A) Not more than $25,000 per livestock animal or working dog; (B) Up to five times the fair market value of a cow calf or yearling, sheep or goat; (C) Up to three times the fair market value of a cow not described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph; and (D) The fair market value of a horse, a livestock animal not specifically described in this paragraph or a working dog. (e) Establish eligibility requirements for compensation, as described in subsection (2)(a) of this section, under county programs that ensure, contingent upon available funds, that: (A) Outside an area of known wolf activity, the compensation is provided regardless of the preexistence of wolf deterrence techniques; (B) Within an area of known wolf activity, the compensation is provided only if owners have demonstrated implementation of best management practices to deter wolves, including reasonable use of nonlethal methods when practicable; and (C) Any compensation is based upon a finding by the local advisory committee that the person did not unreasonably or purposefully create circumstances that attract wolves or encourage conflict between wolves and livestock or working dogs. (5) Each biennium the State Department of Agriculture shall: (a) Prepare a report that specifies the actions taken by counties, compensation and financial assistance provided by counties, and the financial assistance provided to counties, under the wolf depredation compensation and financial assistance grant program; (b) Submit the report, in the manner provided in ORS 192.245, to committees or interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to natural resources; and (c) Post the report on the department’s website for public access. (6) The State Department of Agriculture may use moneys in the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund established under ORS 610.155 to pay expenses incurred in administering the wolf depredation compensation and financial assistance grant program. [2011 c.690 §1; 2025 c.314 §1]