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Bill to add black bears to Montana livestock‑loss reimbursements wins broad industry support at hearing
Summary
Representative Eric Tillman told the Senate committee House Bill 356 would add black bears to the Livestock Loss Board’s reimbursement and mitigation programs; ranchers, Farm Bureau, tribes and industry groups supported the change and the Department of Livestock said current funds and procedures can handle verification and payouts.
Representative Eric Tillman introduced House Bill 356 to expand Montana’s livestock loss reduction and mitigation program to include black bear depredation among reimbursable losses.
Rancher Merrill McKamey told the committee that his Cascade County operation suffers ‘‘no less than 10 and sometimes up to 20 lambs and ewes a year’’ lost to black bears and urged the committee to treat black‑bear losses the same as losses caused by wolves and mountain lions. Nicole Rolfe of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation and representatives of the Montana Stock Growers Association, Montana Wool Growers and other producer groups also testified in favor.
Patrick (surname transcribed) representing several tribal governments said reservations host large ranching operations and asked for government‑to‑government notification if the bill becomes law.
Brian Simonson, deputy executive officer for the Department of Livestock, explained the claims verification process: USDA Wildlife Services typically inspects suspected predation sites promptly, documents evidence (tracks, bite patterns, distances between canine marks) and prepares paperwork that the department uses to submit verified claims to the Livestock Loss Board. Simonson said that because verification must occur quickly to avoid scavenger disturbance, producers should secure the site and contact wildlife services as soon as possible.
Committee members questioned fiscal impacts. Sponsor and witnesses cited that the program has accumulated additional funding in recent years. Simonson said the fund runs on a July‑to‑June fiscal year and reported roughly "$250,000 in the book so far" with a $150,000 operating addition from the previous session, giving an operating total of about $450,000 annually; witnesses said recent years have shown reduced claims payouts. Tillman and witnesses also cited data from Wildlife Services showing 2022 as a comparatively high year for black bear losses (25 sheep), and they said the fiscal note projects a modest impact because most black‑bear losses are lower‑value animals (lambs, ewes or young calves).
Witnesses and members clarified scope: the Livestock Loss Board reimburses losses from government‑managed apex predators (federally managed grizzly bear and state‑managed wolves and mountain lions) and would include state‑managed black bears; varmints such as coyotes are not state‑managed and are not eligible for reimbursement.
Sponsor Tillman closed, urging committee support. The hearing concluded with no committee vote recorded in the transcript.
