RED WOLF COALITION DEPREDATION
COMPENSATION PROGRAM

Funded and Administered by the RED WOLF COALITION

INTRODUCTION

Efforts to restore and recover large carnivores are inherently controversial, especially in local communities. Red wolf conservation in northeastern North Carolina is uniquely challenging because it means reintroducing red wolves onto a landscape dominated by private lands. Without private landowner support, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will not be able to establish a healthy population of red wolves.

ROLE OF THE RED WOLF COALITION

The scale and complexity of the USFWS effort to increase the wild red wolf population in northeastern North Carolina requires the active support of conservation partners. Therefore, the Red Wolf Coalition (RWC) has established the Red Wolf Coalition Depredation Compensation Program (Program) in order to safeguard the species and to achieve restoration of the red wolf.

PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM

  • to increase landowner tolerance of red wolves on the landscape
  • to improve red wolf restoration prospects

ANIMALS COVERED BY THE PROGRAM

  • Alpaca
  • Cattle
  • Chicken
  • Donkey
  • Duck
  • Geese
  • Goat
  • Guard Dog
  • Herding Dog
  • Horse
  • Llama
  • Mule
  • Pig
  • Sheep
  • Turkey

Household pets, including but not limited to dogs and cats, are not included in the compensation program.

REPORTING PROCEDURES

To be eligible for reimbursement, claimants must follow specific reporting procedures. Suspected wolf depredation events should be reported as soon as possible. Doing so provides for the clearest evidence by which to conduct an investigation.

  • STEP #1 – Taking care not to destroy or obscure any evidence, carefully examine the dead or injured animal as well as the suspected depredation site. Do not disturb the site, and be careful not to obscure or erase any animal tracks. Photograph or video the scene if possible. A USFWS investigator must be able to examine all clues, some of which you may not recognize.
  • STEP #2 – To be eligible for compensation, claimant must report a suspected red wolf depredation to the USFWS within 48 hours of discovering injured and/or killed animals. Use the telephone number below. Claimants should note the name of the person who took the initial report and the day and time of that report.
  • STEP #3 – After investigating the incident, the USFWS investigator will forward a report to the Red Wolf Coalition. Based on information in the investigator’s report, RWC will determine whether compensation is warranted. If compensation is warranted, the claimant will be asked to complete a brief application for compensation.

TO REPORT A SUSPECTED WOLF DEPREDATION

  • To report a suspected wolf depradation, please call the USFWS at 855.496.5837.

PAYMENTS

  • If the death and/or injury reported is determined to be the result of red wolf depredation, the Red Wolf Coalition will reimburse the owner 100% of the animal’s/animals’ current market value.
  • If the death and/or injury reported is determined to be the result of depredation by coyote, dog, or other non-wolf canid, or by a non-canid species, RWC will offer no reimbursement.
  • If the death and/or injury reported is determined to be the result of an “unknown canid” depredation, RWC will review the USFWS investigator’s case report and determine if the depredation is “likely” wolf-related or “unlikely” wolf-related. This determination will be based on whether the preponderance of evidence indicates or does not indicate one or more wolves were involved in the incident. In cases deemed to be “likely” wolf-related, the Red Wolf Coalition will reimburse the owner 100% of the animal’s/animals’ current market value.
  • The Red Wolf Coalition will evaluate payments to claimants that are repeat applicants for compensation. At RWC’s discretion, funds will be offered to support the use of non-lethal deterrents (e.g., enclosures, pens, guard animals) rather than for cash reimbursement.

The Red Wolf Coalition will evaluate the Program’s efficacy every three months and will determine after each evaluation whether the Program will continue into the next quarter. As well, all depredation reports will be made publicly available (with claimant-identifying information redacted) on RWC’s website and on its social media platforms.