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USDA Wildlife Services asks Gilliam County for higher budget to expand coyote control and aerial flights
Summary
USDA Wildlife Services staff reported increased activity and requested county budget support to expand aerial operations and maintain local staffing; the county will consider the request during the budget process and was asked for a letter of intent by June 15.
USDA Wildlife Services staff briefed the Gilliam County Court on March 5 about an expanded local program to control predators and respond to wildlife conflicts, and they requested increased county support as part of the FY2025 budget process.
Shane Coyle, district supervisor, and local technician Kirk St. Clair reported Wildlife Services currently covers roughly 95,000 acres in the county and has removed 241 coyotes since the start of the program’s recent expansion. Coyle said the existing contract in the current fiscal year is about $83,000 and that Wildlife Services is asking the county to support an increase to $107,500 — a $24,500 rise — to allow for staffing, ground response and an expanded flight plan.
Coyle said two days of aerial flight were donated to the county this season from state wildlife funds and that future flights would be part of the expanded agreement; he estimated a single flight day cost around $2,000. The county’s landfill contributions were described as a potential funding source: Coyle said about $10,000 of landfill revenue could be applied to free up county dollars for aerial flights.
"Plane is the best tool right here to mitigate that, to just get a jump on this and take care of things," Kirk St. Clair said, describing the value of coordinated aerial operations in winter conditions.
Court members asked for clarification on who would sign up for the program and how residents could contact the local technician. Coyle said they will provide business cards and requested that the county post contact information on the county website. Coyle also said he needs a county commitment letter of intent by June 15 for budgeting purposes.
The court did not make an immediate appropriation; commissioners said they would consider the request as part of the county’s regular budget process and will provide a formal response after review. Coyle said if the county fully funds the request the program could provide more flight days next winter; county officials confirmed the request will appear in upcoming budget deliberations.
