Harney County discusses winding funding for Wildlife Services; APHIS presence seen as key
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Summary
Harney County Court heard an extended presentation Nov. 5 on the countys Wildlife Services program after Taylor Grazing Fund money ran out, and officials directed an advisory committee to pursue outside partners and funding.
Harney County Court heard an extended presentation Nov. 5 about the countys Wildlife Services (predator control) program and possible funding options after the county exhausted Taylor Grazing Fund revenue.
Lee Foster, district wildlife biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, told the court Wildlife Services does more than predator control and is often the only entity legally authorized to address some species. "They're really our go-to source for addressing a lot of different kinds of wildlife damage," Foster said, noting federal and state statutes (including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act) make treatment options species-specific. He said Wildlife Services can legally remove active raven nests on power lines and run operations that would be difficult for volunteer programs or county employees.
Adam Kemper, the countys Wildlife Services agent (via USDA/APHIS), and other participants described services the position provides: responding to coyotes and cougar complaints, investigating depredation, relocating beavers when possible to reduce irrigation and recharge impacts, and supporting large-carnivore incidents with statewide staff and aircraft when needed. Foster and others warned that a locally employed county agent or private wildlife-control operator could not provide the same range of legal authorities or statewide backup: "Not having an APHIS employee would mean no legal control or injurious control of migratory birds," Foster said, citing ravens and other raptors.
Court members discussed funding options and next steps. County staff said the total 2025—6 program cost is $121,161, with the county portion at about $94,500; the balance (roughly $26,600) comes from state and federal partners. Administrative costs (vehicles and support) run roughly $45,000 annually, according to staff. Commissioners directed the Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC) to reach out to potential partners including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, local livestock and farm-bureau groups, Harney Electric, and federal land managers to identify supplemental funding.
No formal vote was taken to change the program; the court recognized the service as "vital" and acknowledged the county will need to identify recurring funding before the next budget cycle.
Court members and staff also discussed structural alternatives. Foster and other presenters said counties that attempted to move wildlife-control functions outside USDA/APHIS typically lose legal authorities for migratory-bird management, aircraft operations and certain injurious-harassment tools for wolves. They warned that replacing a federal APHIS agent with a county-hired employee or a private operator would likely reduce the countys ability to respond to some high-priority incidents and to obtain assistance from statewide Wildlife Services staff.
