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Supervisors approve USDA Wildlife Services contract to support livestock depredation and public education
Summary
Plumas County authorized a one‑year agreement with USDA APHIS Wildlife Services for integrated wildlife damage management (IWDM), sharing costs with Sierra County and state reimbursement, to provide two trained wildlife specialists for depredation response, education and verification.
Plumas County supervisors on Aug. 19 approved a joint program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services (APHIS WS) to maintain an integrated wildlife damage management program in Plumas and Sierra counties.
Agricultural Commissioner Olivia (surname in record) presented the agreement, saying the one‑year cost is $97,464.40. She described funding offsets: California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) typically reimburses about 37% of the county share; Sierra County will contribute approximately 20% of the remaining cost; and user fees for depredation responses will offset part of the local cost. After those offsets Olivia presented a net Plumas County annual cost of roughly $49,123 once state reimbursements, Sierra County contribution and user fees are applied.
The county will host two Wildlife Services specialists with vehicles and equipment. One position is a nonlethal specialist with a primary role in education and assistance with nonlethal measures (the presenter said 65–75% of Wildlife Services time is education). The other is a lethal‑response specialist who is available when depredation permits and regulatory approvals require lethal action; the Agricultural Commissioner emphasized depredation permits are issued by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), not Wildlife Services, and Wildlife Services will act only after proper permits and coordination.
Speakers at the meeting — including ranchers and a retired agricultural commissioner — told the board the contract is valued by the agricultural community for rapid response to wildlife conflicts, scale certification and noxious weed support. The county and Sierra County will execute the agreement and the board authorized the Agricultural Commissioner to sign.
Ending: The board approved the resolution by roll call. Staff said the program will help ranchers with depredation verification, range‑rider coordination and education on attractant management to reduce human‑wildlife conflict.
