Minnesota Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants

Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants were first funded by the Minnesota Legislature in 2017. These grants were available to Minnesota livestock producers and $240,000 was granted by the Department to livestock producers for costs of approved practices to prevent wolf-livestock conflicts between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2019.

New this year, grants must be matched 1:1 by producers. For example, a $10,000 project would consist of $5,000 in grant funds and $5,000 funded by the producer. Documentation must be provided to the Department for the entire amount spent on the project. For this example, that would be $10,000. The Department has received a grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to continue making grants to livestock producers for measures that will reduce wolf-livestock conflicts. A total of $60,000 is available through August 31, 2022. We expect 10 to 20 grants will be awarded, but the final number depends on the size of award. 

Grant applications will be scored competitively using an evaluation profile and then ranked based on total score. Please pay special attention to the evaluation profile when answering the questions on the application. A review committee comprised of representatives from Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Agriculture (MDA, DNR, USDA) and producer organizations will evaluate applications.

Who is eligible:

Livestock producers within Minnesota’s wolf range or on property determined by the commissioner to be affected by wolf-livestock conflicts. Grant recipients will continue to be eligible for depredation payments under Minnesota Statute 3.737 and Minnesota Rules Chapter 1515.

Eligible livestock species:

Any animal produced for profit and has been documented to have been killed by wolves in Minnesota in the past is eligible. This includes but is not exclusive to the following animals which the MDA has paid depredation claims for in the past: bison, cattle, chicken, deer, donkey, duck, geese, goat, horse, llama, mule, sheep, swine and turkey.

Eligible grant expenses:

Grants are available to reimburse costs associated with the following practices: the purchase of guard animals, veterinary costs for guard animals, the installation of wolf-barriers which may include pens, fladry and fencing, the installation of wolf-deterring lights and alarms, calving or lambing shelters, or other measures suggested by the applicant and considered by the review panel likely to reduce wolf-livestock conflicts.

Ineligible expenses:

Any measures that are not implemented in a good-faith effort to reduce wolf-livestock conflicts are ineligible. Only measures approved by the MDA will be considered eligible for reimbursement. All Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s) or other vehicles are considered to be ineligible expenses. Salary expenses not related to the construction of barriers, shelters, lights or alarms are also considered ineligible expenses.

Grant recipients must make a good-faith effort to avoid wolf-livestock conflicts, make a good-faith effort to care for guard animals paid for with grant funds, retain proper documentation of expenses, report within 30 days of project end to the on the effectiveness of the nonlethal methods employed and allow follow-up evaluation and monitoring by the commissioner. The terms of the project will be defined in a grant agreement between the grantee and the MDA.

**You may email your completed application to: ** MN_MDA_elkandwolf@state.mn

Or mail your completed application to:

Attn: Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grant

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Plant Protection Division

625 Robert Street North

St. Paul, MN 55155-2538

The Application is within the RFP below.

• Request For Proposals 2022

• Wolf Depredation Compensation

• Wolf management