The Wildlife Damage Compensation Program provides:
• 100 per cent compensation for death of livestock or poultry due to predation.
• If an animal’s carcass cannot be found or there is no evidence to prove a predator attack occurred, compensation may not be paid.
• In the event livestock are injured, producers can receive up to 80 per cent of the animal’s value to cover veterinary costs.
• If predation is suspected but cannot be confirmed, 50 per cent compensation will be provided.
• Compensation is eligible on predation by coyotes, bears, cougars, lynx, foxes, wolves, eagles or any other wild animal that causes injury or death to eligible livestock.
• Minimum values have been established for compensation, including $400 for beef calves, $100 for foals, $40 for sheep and $30 for goats.
• For beef calves, pricing will be determined using CanFax values the week before, the week of, and the week after the loss. The highest of these three values will be given to cover the lost animal. If the market price is lower than the set minimum, the producer will receive the $400 minimum.
• Compensation for other species will be determined using market sales data. Prices will be set using months when sales volumes are high. Rates will be determined on an as-needed basis for uncommon species.
• Registered livestock will be valued higher than commercial livestock.
Eligible Species
Animals eligible for compensation include:
• Cattle, sheep, goats, bison, horses, hogs (excluding wild boar), elk, fallow deer, llamas and donkeys
• Ostriches, emus, ducks, geese, chickens and turkeys
• Other less common species
Producer Obligations
• Producers are expected to utilize the prevention programs that are recommended and available to help protect their livestock from predators.
• Receipts for things such as veterinary costs and drug expenses should be retained as evidence of treatment.
• A carcass or sufficient evidence of an attack is required for a claim to be initiated.
• Producers with purebred livestock and poultry will be required to provide evidence of the livestock’s value.
Claims
• The producer must contact SCIC as soon as a predator attack is apparent so the assessment process can begin.
• All evidence of the attack should be preserved for the adjuster to view. An adjuster will assess loss or injury.
• Claim assessments are based on the evidence of the attack, the attack site and indicators of the presence of a predator.
• If the adjuster determines that:
a) There is sufficient evidence to prove a predator attack, the producer will receive full compensation.
b) The evidence is inconclusive, but the probable cause of loss is a predator, the producer will receive 50 per cent compensation.
c) There is no carcass or there is no evidence to prove a predator attack, no payment will be issued.
