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Polk County committee approves five wildlife-damage claims totaling about $18,000
Summary
The Environmental Services Committee approved five damage-claim payments related to deer and bear damage to crops, after a presentation from county wildlife staff. Committee members voted to approve the claims at the meeting.
Polk County’s Environmental Services Committee approved five wildlife-damage claims at its meeting, agreeing to pay producers for crop losses caused by deer and bears.
The claims were described by county wildlife staff member Cody Knope, who reviewed three deer-only claims and two claims that included bear damage. Knope said the county received five claims this year and that total county payouts were “about $18,000.”
Knope described individual cases: a soybeans claim for Bill Stock for $4,696.31; Derek Lordson’s combined corn, soybean and oat claim for $5,609; Gary “Shorty” Crosby’s damage that was shared with another county, with a Polk County portion of about $2,256; Adam Majeski’s bear-only corn damage of $2,620.78; and Mark Renstrom’s split-county claim with Polk County’s portion about $2,994. He also explained the county’s program rules: a $500 deductible, an 80% payout on amounts over $500, prorated claims above $5,000 and a $10,000 per-producer maximum.
After questions from supervisors about how permits and timing are handled, a committee member moved to approve all five claims and Doug Rowdy seconded. The committee approved the motion.
The committee also heard that Polk County’s total farm- and wildlife-claim payments this year were down from some prior years, and that staff has been encouraging pre-season enrollment in permit programs (WM-40 and other damage permits) to allow more timely abatement (for example, earlier shooting permits) and reduce crop losses.
The committee did not adopt changes to the damage-claim program at the meeting; staff described current rules for permit eligibility, harvest thresholds and timing.
Votes at the meeting were recorded as approval of the five claims.
