Program offers compensation for crop, livestock producers experiencing wildlife damage

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MADISON — Crop or livestock owners who have experienced or anticipate any agricultural damage caused by white-tailed deer, elk, black bear, wild turkeys, cougar or Canada geese may be eligible for damage compensation by enrolling in the Wisconsin Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program.

“The program’s primary goal is to provide damage abatement assistance to limit losses, but it also provides partial compensation for losses in exchange for producers allowing public hunting access for the species causing damage,” said Brad Koele, the Department of Natural Resources wildlife damage specialist who oversees the program.

Enrollment in the program is free of charge and several enrollment options are available.

In order for farmers to be eligible for damage compensation they must provide hunting access to the public for the species they are enrolled under during the regular open hunting season(s) for that species. Public hunting access requirement may apply to property a farmer owns or leases.

Producers experiencing problems with one or more of these species should contact the wildlife damage technician for their county. A list of county contacts can be found on the DNR website. For more information, search the DNR website dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “WDACP county contacts.” Agriculture damages caused by animals not listed above are not covered under the program.

A list of properties enrolled in the program and open to the public for hunting can also be found by searching the DNR website for dnr.wi.gov for keywords “Damage Permit Hunting.”