Union County Seeks $212,510 State Grant to Reimburse Wolf Predation Losses

Union County is asking the Oregon Department of Agriculture for $212,510 to cover recent wolf depredation losses and to fund nonlethal prevention measures, the Board of Commissioners approved Feb. 18. The application request breaks into $62,510 for predation compensation tied to two local producers and $150,000 for prevention funding, and the county’s application deadline for the state program is February twenty-eighth.

A county staff report explains how the predation figure was calculated, saying the valuation involved "establishing fair market value and multiplying that by five as allowed under the new grant rules," though the staff report does not list per-animal dollar amounts. The predation subtotal cited in county materials covers seven ewes, one steer and four cow calves reported by two producers.

County materials list the prevention funding uses in detail, including reimbursements for range riders, herders, fox lights, fladry, electric fences, air patrol and other nonlethal deterrent measures. Union County has acted on similar funding recently: the county advisory committee reviewed applications on December 16, 2025, and the Board approved the allocation of $53,196.31 for nonlethal deterrent grants at a commission meeting on Jan. 7.

If the Oregon Department of Agriculture awards the requested grant, the county plans to distribute funds to producers on an application basis. The Union County Wolf Depredation Compensation Advisory Committee will review producer applications and make recommendations to the Board before allocations are finalized. Producers seeking more information or application packets may contact Annette Powers at 541-963-1001, mail or drop off materials at the Union County Administrative Office, 1106 K Ave., La Grande, or use the county’s application procedures established in earlier rounds.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office frames local response and reporting procedures: "Once reported as a potential wolf depredation, both ODFW and UCSO will investigate the injured or deceased animal to determine what animal most likely caused the death of that animal." The sheriff’s office notes that reporting helps producers when filing for state compensation: "For sheep and cattle producers, having a report taken will assist in filing for monetary compensation through the state." The UCSO also provides local context on wolves: "Whether you like the wolves or not, they are a part of our environment in Union County," and estimates roughly 11 wolf packs spend time in the county and adjacent border counties. The sheriff’s office can be reached at 1109 K Ave., La Grande, by email at sheriff@union-county.org or by phone at (541) 963-1017.

The county’s application program traces back to state law directing the Oregon Department of Agriculture to establish a wolf depredation compensation and financial assistance grant program under HB 3560 and the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund. With the Feb. 28 application deadline imminent, Union County will await the state’s decision before the advisory committee and the Board move forward with individual producer reimbursements and prevention grant awards.