ALBUQUERQUE - Livestock producers can submit applications to the Mexican Wolf/Livestock Council to receive payments for livestock impacted in calendar year 2016 by the presence of wolves under the Mexican Wolf/Livestock Plan. The Payments for Wolf Presence program creates incentives for ranching in ways that promote self-sustaining Mexican wolf populations, viable ranching operations and healthy western landscapes. The deadline for application submissions is June 1, 2017.
The plan was developed by the Council to address wolf-livestock conflicts, one of the most significant challenges to Mexican wolf recovery. The plan is comprised of three core strategies: payments for wolf presence, funding for conflict-avoidance measures and funding for depredation compensation. The Mexican Wolf/ Livestock Council’s payment program recognizes the indirect costs to livestock producers from Mexican wolves, including stress-related weight loss in livestock and other management costs.
Payments to livestock producers are based on a variety of factors, including whether the applicant’s land or grazing lease overlaps on a wolf’s territory or core area (e.g., den or other important area). Other factors include the number of wolf pups, the number of livestock exposed to wolves and the applicant’s participation.
Funding for the plan is available through grants from the Federal Livestock Demonstration Program, which in 2016 provided $60,000 for depredation compensation and $120,000 for preventative measures to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The program has also awarded $60,000 for depredation compensation and $60,000 for preventative measures to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.
Grant funds are matched by in-kind contributions through the Mexican Wolf Fund and Defenders of Wildlife, which provide financial assistance to livestock producers to implement proactive measures to reduce conflicts between Mexican wolves and livestock.
The Mexican Wolf/Livestock Council continues to seek additional private and public funding, in anticipation of increased rancher participation and potential wolf range expansions.
For more information and to download an application to receive payments, visit the Mexican Wolf/Livestock Council website at http://www.coexistencecouncil.org. Completed applications should also be e-mailed to john_oakleaf@fws.gov or submitted by mail to Mexican Wolf/Livestock Council, 2105 Osuna Rd. NE, Albuquerque NM 87113.
For information on the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, visit http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/ or for more information on wolves in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov/wolf.
