Agriculture, Dept. of

Animal Damage Management Board

Chapter 2: Regulations governing the granting of wolf mgmt. program funds

Effective Date: 04/02/2013 to Current

Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 010.0007.2.04022013

Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board

Chapter 2

Regulations Governing the Granting of Wolf Management Program Funds

Section 1. Authority. Pursuant to authority vested in the Animal Damage Management Board by W.S. § 11-6-304, the following regulations are hereby promulgated and adopted.

Section 2. Regulation. The Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board (ADMB) adopts the following regulation governing the distribution of funding appropriated by the Wyoming state legislature for emergency wolf management for the control of gray wolves in Wyoming where designated as a predatory animal. The gray wolf is designated as a predatory animal as defined in W.S. §11-6-302(a)(ix)(B) and W.S. §23-1-101(a)(viii)(B) except in:

1. (a) Those areas where gray wolves are designated as trophy game animals by W.S. §23-1-101 (a)(xii)(B)(I) and (II), and
2. (b) Yellowstone National Park; and,
3. (c) The Wind River Reservation, except on non-Indian owned fee titled lands.

Section 3. Definitions. For the purpose of this regulation, the definitions set forth in Title 11 of the Wyoming Statutes apply unless the context or subject matter clearly requires a different interpretation. The following definitions are adopted:

1. (a) “District” means a predator management district created under W.S. § 11-6-201(a).
2. (b) “District Board” means the board of directors of a district created under W.S. § 11-6-202.
3. (c) “USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services or WS” means the federal agency that provides predator management in Wyoming.
4. (d) “WDA” means the Wyoming Department of Agriculture
5. (e) “Director” means the Director of the Department of Agriculture for the state of Wyoming or his designated representative
6. (f) “Qualified agent or agent” means an individual, company, or organization that can provide necessary service and equipment for managing gray wolves.

Section 4. Applicability of Rules. These rules shall apply to all Districts in Wyoming, whether or not they solicit or receive grant funding from the WDA under any other program. These rules do not preclude any District from performing wolf management work, using its existing personnel at the district's expense.

Section 5. Qualifications for Funding. To qualify for funding under these rules,

(a) A livestock owner, whose livestock has been injured or killed in an area in Wyoming where the gray wolf is designated as a predatory animal, and who suspects the injury or kill is from a gray wolf must:

(i) Contact USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services (WS), or another qualified agent approved by the Director, to verify that the livestock loss or injury was due to wolf depredation; and

(ii) If the livestock loss or injury is due to wolf depredation, contact the WDA Predator Management Coordinator to request assistance in managing the depredating wolf problem.

(b) The WDA Predator Management Coordinator will then contact WS, or another qualified agent approved by the Director, for assistance in managing the depredating wolf problem. The WDA Predator Management Coordinator will also contact the Predator Management District President or Vice President to notify them of wolf activity in their district.

(c) Through an established Memorandum of Understanding (agreement) between the ADMB and WS, or contract between the ADMB and another qualified agent approved by the Director, WS or the agent will assist the livestock owner, for a reasonable amount of time as agreed upon between WS, or the agent and the livestock owner at the time when WS, or the agent's, assistance is requested. WS or the agent will provide an invoice to the WDA for the services provided to the livestock owner.

(d) Assistance in wolf management may be requested for human health and safety issues and the Director may grant funding for such assistance at his discretion.

Section 6. Funding Distribution. An invoice from WS or agent providing wolf management assistance shall be submitted to the WDA to request wolf management funds.

(a) Initial funding shall be available for payments for wolf management. Any balance left over after the first year shall roll forward into the second year.

(b) Thereafter, the WDA may annually establish a budget amount that shall be provided to reimburse, WS or approved agents of wolf management service.

Section 7. Authority to Determine Funding Amounts. In all cases, the WDA retains the authority to allocate funding to providers of wolf management assistance in the amount determined by the WDA.

Section 8. Savings Clause. If any provision of this regulation shall be held to be illegal or unconstitutional, such a ruling shall not affect other provisions of this regulation which can be given effect without that provision; and, to this end, the provisions of this regulation shall be severable.