ODA To Hold Listening Sessions To Update Wolf Compensation

This year, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 777, sponsored by Senator Todd Nash and Representative Bobby Levy making the first major changes to the Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Grant Program in over a decade.  Now, the Oregon Department of Agriculture is starting the process to update the administrative rules that will put this law into action, and the Department says they want to hear from  ranchers and other across the state.

Make Your Thoughts Known

ODA will host several listening sessions to discuss the new bill, and determine how to best shape the compensation program moving forward.  Sessions will take place in: 

• Prineville Tuesday August 26th
• LaGrande Wednesday August 27th
• Klamath Falls Friday September 5th -- virtual participation is available for this session. 

To provide public comment remotely for the Klamath Falls session, email BoardAgriculture@oda.oregon.gov by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, with your name, topic, desired time slot, and the phone number you will use to call in. 

ODA stressed its job is to implement the law as written by the Legislature, meaning they cannot change the bill itself, but they do want input and feedback on how to write the administrative rules that put it into action. 

What Changed in the Law? 

Senate Bill 777 was a legislative compromise that fundamentally changes the program:   

• New Compensation Model: The "missing livestock" category has been eliminated. It has been replaced with a new multiplier system for confirmed or probable losses due to wolves. This allows county committees to approve compensation of up to 3x to 5x the animal's market value (depending on the animal type), with a cap of $25,000 per animal. This change is intended to better recognize the full economic impact of a depredation, including herd stress and lost productivity.
• Increased Support for Prevention: The new law also increases the state's investment in proactive, non-lethal tools, requiring that at least 50% of grant funds be used for prevention measures. 

Learn more by visiting ODA’s Rulemaking Webpage.

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