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Committee adds 'possible' tier to state depredation payments for wolf and grizzly losses
Summary
House Bill 82 would add a third payment tier, 'possible,' to the state's livestock depredation reimbursement ladder created by last year’s House Bill 592. The change would allow payment when investigators find evidence consistent with predator activity but cannot conclusively attribute a kill; the committee voted to advance the bill.
Representative Gerald Raymond (R‑District 31) presented House Bill 82 as a technical cleanup to last year’s House Bill 592. The bill replaces the word “validate” with “confirm” in statutory language and adds a third payment tier—"possible"—between the existing "probable" and "confirmed" classifications used to evaluate livestock depredation investigations by wolves or grizzly bears.
Raymond said the added tier would allow payouts when an investigator finds a carcass and surrounding evidence consistent with predation but not enough remains to reach a higher confidence level. “This is revenue neutral; we’re not asking for more money in the account,” he told the committee, explaining that payments would still be prioritized by confirmed losses first.
Testimony in support came from multiple stakeholders. Dexton Lake of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation said livestock producers have borne disproportionate costs from predator losses and that "possible" classifications often hover above 50 percent and should be eligible for payment when funds permit. Ellery Tucker Williams spoke for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Commission in support, saying the change aligns state terminology with investigator practice and could alleviate producer stress. Nick Fasiano of the Idaho Wildlife Federation and a representative of the Idaho Cattle Association also testified in favor.
Committee members asked how the investigation process works and who makes determinations; witnesses identified Wildlife Services (an arm of USDA APHIS) as the usual investigating party and said the classification ladder reflects field realities where carcasses are sometimes heavily scavenged.
The committee approved sending House Bill 82 to the House floor with a due pass recommendation by voice vote.
Ending: The bill advances to the House floor. Supporters characterized the change as a practical adjustment to ensure the compensation fund can address more of the losses producers face when conclusive evidence is absent but predation remains the leading explanation.
