Wallowa County, Oregon to start a Wolf depredation payout system that compensates Ranchers for livestock proven to be killed by C.lupus.....Candidly, this type system did not ameliorate the harsh feelings toward Wolves in the Rockies and in New Mexico.....................Let us hope that this type mitigation finds a comfort zone up in Oregon

Wallowa County To Compensate Livestock Losses To Wolves

David Nogueras

Wallowa County's Board of Commissioners has approved a plan that would compensate ranchers who lose livestock to wolves. Oregon doesn't have a program that compensates livestock producers for these types of losses. The Community Alliance Livestock Fund, or CALF for short, was the brainchild of a local rancher who wanted to change that.   This week's vote will create a formal process for bringing ranchers on board and evaluating potential losses due to depredation.

Susan Roberts is a county commissioner in Wallowa County. She says the program won't pay out any compensation this year. Instead it will be limited to a dry run of sorts.   She says next year, the county plans to solicit donations from private individuals and conservation groups. Susan Roberts:  "What we would like to say is if it's important to you folks who live elsewhere and you feel good about having these animals back in the land, then perhaps you'd like to help cover some of the costs of people who are having to bear the brunt of having these animals here."Roberts says if the program proves successful it could serve as a model for other parts of the state.