Minnesota offers Grants to prevent wolf attacks

By Scout Nelson

Minnesota livestock producers now have access to new funding aimed at preventing wolf attacks on their animals. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced that $45,000 will be awarded through the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants. Producers interested in applying for these grants must submit their applications by January 3, 2025. 

These grants reimburse producers for costs incurred while implementing approved practices to prevent conflicts between wolves and livestock. It’s important to note that only expenses incurred after entering into a grant agreement with the MDA are eligible for reimbursement.

Eligible expenses for this grant program include several protective measures:

• Purchase of guard animals
• Veterinary costs for guard animals
• Construction of wolf-barriers, including pens
• Installation of fladry and fencing
• Use of wolf-deterring lights and alarms
• Establishment of calving or lambing shelters

To qualify for funding, producers must reside within Minnesota’s designated wolf range, as determined by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Alternatively, they may operate on property identified by the Commissioner of Agriculture as affected by wolf-livestock conflicts.

Eligible species for reimbursement include a variety of livestock, such as bison, cattle, chickens, deer, donkeys, ducks, geese, goats, horses, llamas, mules, sheep, swine, and turkeys, provided there is documentation of prior wolf attacks.

The funding program requires an 80:20 matching cost-share, meaning the grant will reimburse 80% of eligible project costs, while the grantee is responsible for the remaining 20%.

To ensure consideration, the grant application must be emailed or postmarked by 5 p.m. on January 3, 2025. All work funded by this grant must be completed and expenses reported by October 31, 2025. For more information and to access the application, visit www.mda.state.mn.us/wolfgrants.

This funding initiative is made possible by appropriations from the Minnesota Legislature and support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for grant distribution.

Photo Credit:minnesota-department-of-agriculture