House committee advances bill to expand wolf depredation compensation, sets per-animal cap

The House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water advanced Senate Bill 777A during a work session, sending the measure to the full House with a “do pass” recommendation. The bill modifies the depredation compensation program to provide compensation to individuals who suffer probable or confirmed losses or injury of livestock or working dogs, caps compensation at $25,000 per animal and specifies maximum multipliers applied to fair market value.

The change matters because committee members described the bill as an attempt to balance wildlife recovery and rural livelihoods as wolf packs expand across the state. Committee members and several legislators praised months of negotiations among conservation groups, rural representatives and the department and said the bill aims to prioritize ranchers who have used nonlethal methods to protect animals.

Committee staff member…