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How to File a Claim for Wolf Depredation of Livestock
- Livestock owners may be compensated for animals killed by wolves or so crippled by wolves that they must be euthanized. Livestock are defined as cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, horses, donkeys, mules, goats, farmed Cervidae (deer, elk, etc.), llamas, Ratitae (ostriches, emus, rheas, etc.) and bison.
- To make a wolf depredation claim, an owner must report the depredation to an investigator within 48 hours of discovery. Investigators must have received training approved by the MDA to investigate a claim. These groups are approved to investigate claims:
- USDA APHIS Wildlife Services – Phone: 218-327-3350
- Minnesota DNR Conservation Officers – an Interactive map of officer patrol areas with contact information is available from the DNR.
- Do not disturb the livestock carcass or the surrounding site until it can be investigated. The investigator will look for tracks or other signs of wolf near the carcass.
- In order to determine that wolves are responsible for livestock depredation, a carcass will need to be available for the investigator. The MDA is not authorized to pay claims for livestock that are missing. The investigator will complete a claim form and is also required to notify USDA APHIS Wildlife Services within 48 hours of making an investigation. USDA works with farms in certain situations to control wolves or deter additional depredation.
- After the carcass has been investigated, it will need to be disposed of. Minnesota statute requires that carcasses be disposed of within 72 hours of death.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health provides guidance on proper carcass disposal. - The investigator will send the completed claim to the MDA. If the investigation determined that wolves were more likely than not responsible for the depredation, the claim will be sent to University of Minnesota Extension to determine the value of the killed livestock.
- Once the value of the killed livestock is determined, the claim is returned to the MDA, and payment is made to the claimant.
- If an investigation could not determine that wolves were the likely cause for death of livestock, the claim will not be paid. A claimant can appeal this finding in county court.
