With calving and lambing season underway, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would like to remind livestock producers in Wisconsin of the wolf damage loss reimbursement process. During this time of year, producers may see increased wolf presence around their livestock or encounter a livestock depredation in their pastures that they suspect was caused by wolves. Producers may wonder what options they may have to deal with these conflicts.
If the DNR or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Wildlife Services verifies that a wolf caused the depredation and the depredation was reported in the correct manner, the department may be able to provide abatement, as well as reimbursement, for the value of the depredated livestock. The DNR contracts with the USDA-Wildlife Services to respond to these wolf depredation complaints. If you suspect that a depredation was caused by a wolf, please call USDA-Wildlife Services as soon as you find the depredated livestock so they may investigate and determine the species involved in the depredation. A trained, local wildlife service technician will arrange a time to visit the farm and look for tracks, bite marks and other evidence that can help determine the cause of death.
If your livestock depredation is verified to have been caused by a wolf, you will be supplied with a wolf damage loss reimbursement form that you can submit to the DNR to request reimbursement. The wildlife damage technician handling your investigation will walk you through the steps of this process and recommend or assist with abatement that may mitigate future conflicts. Wolf damage loss reimbursement forms need to be submitted to DNR within 14 days of the depredation.
Logistics
Below is the USDA-Wildlife Services district map and contact information. Your location in the state will determine which district you need to call. USDA-Wildlife Services maintains toll-free numbers, monitored seven days a week, which anyone can call to report wolf depredation conflicts. These phone numbers should be the first point of contact when suspecting a wolf depredation. Although these numbers are not manned 24 hours a day, they are checked frequently to ensure reasonable response times. If you do not get a live operator, you should leave a message with a short summary of the conflict details and a contact number that the USDA-Wildlife Services staff should call for follow-up.
While not every livestock producer has experienced a wolf depredation, it’s important that producers are aware of the resources that exist to assist. The DNR and USDA-Wildlife Services stand ready to assist producers and minimize losses for those who experience conflict with wolves. For additional information and resources, search “wolf conflict” at dnr.wisconsin.gov. To stay informed of current wolf depredation incidents, please subscribe to DNR Wolf Conflict Notifications
