Each year the Montana Livestock Loss Board receives funding for loss prevention grants and is now accepting applications for the 2025 funding round. Applications are due by May 31st and grant applications are available on the board’s website www.llb.mt.gov . Interested parties may also contact the board office at LIVLossBoard@mt.gov or 406-444-4994 to request an application.
The loss prevention grants are aligned with the Board’s mission to support Montana’s livestock producers and their communities by reducing the economic impacts of livestock depredation from wolves, grizzly bears, and mountain lions. The Board is looking to financially support programs that seek to reduce conflict and discourage these predators from depredating on livestock.
Applicants must be either an individual or a corporation actively and directly involved in the raising and marketing of livestock, their offspring, or products derived from the livestock in the regular course of business. If an applicant has previously suffered livestock depredation from wolves, grizzlies, or mountain lions, the applicant must submit a summary of prior depredation(s) with the application. The LLB, in its discretion, may consider other applicants, including:
a. participants in youth agricultural programs, such as the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H; and
b. non-profit corporations (including grazing associations) who will be partnering with or working on behalf of livestock producers.
Grant requests may not exceed 10% of the total value of the livestock that will be protected by the loss prevention project. Any activity proposed by a grant applicant must be a practice identified as an acceptable predation prevention practice in policies or publications issued by the Livestock Loss Board, USDA Wildlife Services, Montana FWP, or other agencies deemed appropriate by the Board.
Applicants applying for projects are required to provide a 30% cost share to complete the project. Further, a limit of ten percent of the total grant request can be used for indirect expenses such as office time, grant monitoring, and consulting.
The Montana Livestock Loss Board was established by the legislature in 2007 to address economic losses due to wolf predation and to create incentives for producers to take proactive, preventative steps to decrease the risk of loss and is attached to the Montana Department of Livestock for administrative purposes.
The purpose of the Montana Livestock Loss Program is to acknowledge the importance of economic viability and sustainability of individual livestock operators in Montana who are negatively affected by wolves, grizzly bears, or mountain lions. Specifically, the purpose of the loss reduction and mitigation programs are:
- To provide financial reimbursements to producers for losses caused by wolves, grizzly bears or mountain lions based on program criteria.
- To proactively apply prevention tools and incentives to decrease the risk of wolf, grizzly bear or mountain lion caused losses.
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MT DOL – 2025
