Wolf-Livestock Compensation Grant Program

Department of Fish and Wildlife · State of California

At a glance

Wolf-Livestock Compensation Grant Program is an open California state grant opportunity from the Department of Fish and Wildlife (State of California). Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Total estimated funding is $600K. Applicant types listed as eligible include business, individual, nonprofit, other legal entity, public agency and 1 more. It is listed on the California Grants Portal. Cost sharing is not required.

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Key facts

Opened: Oct 28, 2024
Close date: Ongoing
Award floor: Not specified
Award ceiling: Not specified
Est. total funding: $600,000
Expected awards: Not specified
Matching funds: Not required
Funding instrument: Grant

Program details (as published on the California Grants Portal)

Type: Grant
Funding source: State
Matching funds: Not Required
Funding method: Reimbursement(s)
Estimated number of awards: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Estimated award amounts: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Award period: Until funds expended
Expected award announcement: Rolling announcement
Letter of intent: Not required
Geography: There is no geographic restriction for eligibility. However, applicants must have had a confirmed or probable wolf depredation on or after July 1, 2024, as determined during a depredation investigation and documented on a CDFW Livestock Loss Determination form.
How to submit: By email: Wolfcompensation@wildlife.ca.gov
Latest change note: Removed deadline date, to allow for rolling deadlines.

Who can apply

Applicant categories as listed on the California Grants Portal. GrantsJunction maps them to detailed applicant types for search and matching.

Business
Individual
Nonprofit
Other Legal Entity
Public Agency
Tribal Government

Additional information on eligibility (from the listing)

Eligible applicants for direct loss of livestock (death, injury) must have had a confirmed or probable wolf depredation on or after July 1, 2024, as determined during a depredation investigation and documented in a CDFW Determination Form.

Can your organization apply?

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Purpose and description as published on the California Grants Portal.

Purpose

The purpose of the grant is to help mitigate the impact of wolves on livestock producers in California. The Wolf-Livestock Compensation Grant Program has established three primary areas of need and compensation; direct livestock loss from wolf depredation, the use nonlethal deterrent tools, and the compensation for indirect loss or affects from wolves on livestock.

Description

The Wolf-Livestock Compensation Grant Program has three “prongs”, or potential grant opportunities, for eligible applicants: direct loss compensation, nonlethal deterrent methods support, and indirect loss compensation. This grant opportunity involves the first prong, direct loss compensation, in which producers can be compensated for direct livestock loss (death, injury) due to confirmed or probable wolf depredation. Wolf depredation is determined during an investigation and documented by CDFW on a Livestock Loss Determination form. Each reported depredation incident is unique and requires a case-by-case analysis of the evidence, context, and other factors that inform the determination process. CDFW strives to conduct investigations as soon as reasonably possible to preserve physical evidence and gather information from producers and potential eyewitnesses. Wolf depredation is “confirmed” when there is physical evidence that an animal was injured or killed by a wolf and “probable” when there is sufficient evidence to suggest wolf predation (e.g., evidence of predation and evidence that wolves were likely present at the time of injury or death), but not enough evidence to confirm it. Upon issuance of compensation for a direct loss, producers will be expected to consult with the Department to evaluate and implement a deterrent strategy that may be beneficial in reducing wolf-livestock conflict. The deterrent tools and/or actions implemented as part of this strategy may be eligible for compensation under the program’s second prong, if and when sufficient funds are available.

Program page on the agency site ↗

How to apply

0 of 8 done · progress saved in this browser

Read the program guidelinesThe agency's solicitation or guidelines set eligibility details, scoring criteria and required documents. Open ↗
Confirm eligibility and fitCheck your organization type and location (see Geography above).
Find out how to submitBy email: Wolfcompensation@wildlife.ca.gov
Request letters of support and partner commitmentsPartners need time to write and sign letters; ask early.
Finish a full draft of the application and budgetFollow the guidelines' format exactly; state programs often require specific forms and attachments.
Ask the program contact any questions earlyAxel Hunnicutt · Michael.Hunnicutt@wildlife.ca.gov Open ↗
Internal review and sign-offLeave time for leadership or board approval and a final proofread.
Submit while funds remainSubmit a few days early and keep your submission confirmation.

Past applications & awards

Historical data · not a prediction

Reported by the agency for this listing

Fiscal year 2025–2659 applications · 38 awards
Fiscal year 2024–2510 applications · 10 awards

Counts as published on the California Grants Portal. Award counts can read zero until decisions are announced.

Awards published: 10
Total awarded: $87,352
Median award: $3,500 calculated
Smallest – largest: $1,799 – $40,891

Recipients by type: Business (6), Individual (4)

Areas served: Statewide (10)

Largest awards to organizations

P. RanchWolf-Livestock Compensation - Livestock Loss$40,891 · FY 2024–25
G. RanchWolf-Livestock Compensation - Livestock Loss$10,610 · FY 2024–25
L.L.C.Wolf-Livestock Compensation - Livestock Loss$9,945 · FY 2024–25
D.V. RanchWolf-Livestock Compensation - Livestock Loss$9,562 · FY 2024–25
F.D.L.C.CWolf-Livestock Compensation - Livestock Loss$3,650 · FY 2024–25
G. FarmsWolf-Livestock Compensation - Livestock Loss$2,325 · FY 2024–25

Source: California Grants Portal grant award data. Awards to individuals are counted but not named. Past awards show who was funded; they do not predict future decisions.

Program contact (as published)

Axel Hunnicutt
Michael.Hunnicutt@wildlife.ca.gov
1-916-628-3543

Quick answers

Who is eligible to apply for “Wolf-Livestock Compensation Grant Program”?

The official listing names these applicant types as eligible: Business, Individual, Nonprofit, Other Legal Entity, Public Agency and Tribal Government. It adds: “Eligible applicants for direct loss of livestock (death, injury) must have had a confirmed or probable wolf depredation on or after July 1, 2024, as determined during a depredation investigation and documented in a CDFW Determination Form.” Additional restrictions may apply; review the full guidelines.

How much funding is available through “Wolf-Livestock Compensation Grant Program”?

Per the notice, total estimated program funding is $600,000.

How do I apply for “Wolf-Livestock Compensation Grant Program”?

Applications go directly to Department of Fish and Wildlife, not through GrantsJunction. Submission: by email to Wolfcompensation@wildlife.ca.gov. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.

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