CHA PTER 4: ENV IRONMKNTAl. CONSEQUENCES 



Table 35. Estimated livestock losses (confirmed and probable) and the economic value of livestock and 

 domestic animal losses in the year 2015 for Alternative 2 (Updated Council). The columns may 

 not .sum, due to rounding. 



Average value of all sheep and lambs and all cattle, 2001 Montana Agricultural Statistics. 

 Historically, Defenders of Wildlife compensation payments for other domestic animals (guarding dogs, 

 horses, or llamas) was 8.13% of the total payments for cattle and sheep. 



FWP Fiscal Impacts 



Fiscal impacts describe the changes in revenue from license sales, the cost of implementing the program, 

 and the potential sources of revenue to fund it. License revenue from antlerless elk permits, deer B 

 licenses, and moose permits could vary by $220,313 annually, the same as for Alternative 1 (No Action). 

 FWP's projected budget to implement this alternative is $774,046 and includes an extra $50,000 

 specifically for the extra preventative work by FWP, WS, or other cooperators (Table 36). An additional 

 $40,935 - $81,770 is shown for compensation for livestock losses, but FWP monies, matching federal 

 grants or state general fund money, would not fund it. FWP would implement this altemative through a 

 combination of state, federal, and private sources. FWP's contribution would be commensurate with its 

 expenditures for other carnivore management programs and would include license revenue, since FWP 

 intends to use regulated wolf harvest as a management tool if it is biologically su.stainable. If a regulated 

 wolf harvest were to be implemented, some license revenue would be generated, but the amount can't be 

 predicted at this lime. It would depend on how many licenses are sold and the cost of the license. The 

 number of licenses available would be a function of wolf population status, management objectives, and 

 other mortality factors. 



Table 36 represents a plausible budget to implement this altemative. The budget refiects the 

 comprehensive nature of designing and implementing a wolf management program. While this budget 

 represents FWP's best projection of the resources required, FWP cannot assess its accuracy until the 

 agency actually assumes management authority and begins implementation. Some components of the 

 wolf program may not be captured fully by this budget. There may also be costs that could not be 

 predicted at this time or were unforeseen. 



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