Oregon Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Grants

Oregon's Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Grant Program, run by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, provides annual block grants to counties to compensate livestock producers for confirmed or probable wolf-caused losses and to fund non-lethal deterrent measures such as range riders, fladry, guardian animals, and fencing. Counties must maintain an active wolf advisory committee; producers submit depredation and prevention claims to that county committee rather than to ODA directly. In 2026, ODA awarded about $1.16 million across 16 participating counties.

• County must have an active county wolf advisory committee (at least: 1 county commissioner, 2 livestock owner/manager members, 2 members supporting wolf conservation/coexistence, 2 county business representatives)

• Individual producers apply through their local county wolf committee, not directly to ODA

• Compensation is capped at $25,000 per livestock animal or working dog, with up to 5x fair market value for a cow-calf/yearling, sheep, or goat; up to 3x for other cattle; and fair market value (no multiplier) for horses, working dogs, or unlisted livestock

• Counties may also request funds for up to 90% of necessary administrative expenses (county must cover the remaining 10%)

• Funded as an annual block grant to counties, not as fixed per-producer awards; 2026 statewide awards totaled $1,155,160.35 across 16 counties (about $577,700 depredation, $562,000 prevention, $15,600 administration)

• Per-animal compensation is capped at $25,000, with multipliers up to 5x fair market value for small stock/young cattle and 3x for other cattle

• Counties must report fund use to ODA annually by August 1 and retain documentation for at least three years

Counties submit an annual application package to ODA no later than 5:00 pm on February 28th, at wdcfa@oda.oregon.gov (the 2026 deadline has already passed; ODA accepts applications once per year on this recurring deadline, but the exact 2027 window has not yet been posted). Producers submit Depredation or Prevention Application forms directly to their county wolf committee, which forwards claims and supporting documentation as part of the county's application. For help, email wdcfa@oda.oregon.gov or call Sunny Summers at 503-400-4196.