Grizzly Bear Livestock Kills Drop in 2004; Only 26 Livestock Losses Reported

Defenders of Wildlife Payments to Affected Ranchers Drop by $6,000

(01/06/2005) - MISSOULA, Mont. - Defenders of Wildlife paid $12,795 in grizzly bear compensation funds to ranchers and sheep growers in 2004, representing a 32% drop from the previous year. Payments were for one horse, 9 cattle and 13 sheep that were confirmed kills by grizzly bears and an additional three calves that were most likely bear kills. In all, Defenders has paid $112,668 in compensation from The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Grizzly Bear Compensation Trust since its founding in 1997.

"Prevention and compensation are crucial for grizzly bear recovery in the West. While overall losses may be small, individual ranchers feel the sting when it's their sheep or cattle." said Rodger Schlickeisen, President of Defenders of Wildlife. "These initiatives help prevent problems in the first place, and promptly compensate local people when they do occur."

Defenders works to reduce the number of conflicts in grizzly habitat through The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation program. This approach uses cost-share agreements to prevent problems with large carnivores. Projects include erecting electric fencing to create secure calving grounds and sheep bedding grounds; purchasing livestock guardian dogs; and retiring grazing allotments in key habitat. Since its creation, Defenders has invested $191,462 for 53 pro-active projects that directly curtails grizzly bear and human conflicts.

"Defenders of Wildlife believes our program is making a difference and we will continue to work in cooperation with private landowners and state, tribal and federal officials on preventing grizzly bear conflicts," said Minette Johnson, Northern Rockies Field Representative for Defenders. "And although we are very worried about the record number (31) of grizzly bear deaths in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem this year, we know none were killed as a result of conflicts with livestock."

Livestock losses to grizzly bears average just 16 cattle and 19 sheep a year in Montana and Idaho compared to total losses of 173,000 cattle and 65,000 sheep due to other causes in 2003 according the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Yearly compensation payments for grizzly bear damage average $14,865 a year, ranging from a record low of $10,679 in 2002 to a high of $18,919 in 2003. Defenders' compensation program covers losses in Montana and Idaho only, since the state of Wyoming has their own program.

Defenders pay 50% of the full market value when the cause of death of the livestock cannot be verified but circumstantial evidence suggests that it was probably a grizzly bear.

For maps and other details on grizzly compensation visit Grizzly Compensation Trust.

For more information on The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation program visit Carnivore Conservation Fund.

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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and wildlife habitat. With more than 480,000 members and supporters nationwide, Defenders is an effective leader on conservation issues. For timely information on these issues, visit www.defenders.org and subscribe to DENLines, a free e-mail alert newsletter.

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Contact(s):

Deborah Bagocius, (202) 772-0239
Minette Johnson, (406) 549-4103