Except as specified in subsection (a) of this section, the Department shall only offer payment for damage to individual livestock confirmed by the Department or its representative as having been injured or killed by a trophy game animal, or gray wolf in accordance with W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h).
(a) In geographic areas determined by the Department to have terrain, topography, and vegetative characteristics that influence the ability of the claimant and Department to find missing calves and sheep that are believed to have been damaged as a result of a trophy game animal, or gray wolf in accordance with W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h), the Department shall utilize the methods, factors and formulas in this subsection to determine the amount to compensate any landowner, lessee or agent for calves and sheep missing as a result of such damage. - (i) Any claimant whose verified claim is for missing sheep or calves believed to have been damaged as a result of a trophy game animal, or gray wolf in accordance with W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h), shall include on his verified claim the total known death loss, including missing animals, for the sheep or calves for the grazing season together with the number of such losses known to be due to causes other than damage by a trophy game animal, or gray wolf in accordance with W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h).
- (ii) Notwithstanding the use of the formulas in this section, the Department shall not offer compensation for more than the total known death loss less the number of such losses known to be due to causes other than damage by a trophy game animal, or gray wolf in accordance with W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h). In order to utilize any formula, the Department or its representative must have confirmed the claimant had at least one (1) calf or one (1) sheep injured or killed by a trophy game animal, or gray wolf in accordance with W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h).
- (A) Calves and sheep in areas occupied by grizzly bears. To determine the amount of compensation due to a claimant for calves and sheep believed to be missing as a result of being damaged by a black bear, grizzly bear, or mountain lion in areas occupied by grizzly bears, the Department shall utilize the following formula:
- (I) Number of individual calves or sheep confirmed by the Department or its representative killed by a black bear, grizzly bear, or mountain lion multiplied by three and one-half (3.5) multiplied by the value of livestock equals the amount of compensation.
- (II) Sheep in areas not occupied by grizzly bears. To determine the amount of compensation due to a claimant for sheep believed to be missing as a result of being damaged by a black bear or mountain lion in areas not occupied by grizzly bears, the Department shall utilize the following formula:
- (III) Number of individual sheep confirmed by the Department or its representative killed by a black bear or mountain lion multiplied by three (3) multiplied by the value of livestock equals the amount of compensation.
- (iii) Sheep in areas set forth by Commission regulation where gray wolves are designated as trophy game animals, or gray wolves in accordance with W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h). To determine the amount of compensation due to a claimant for sheep believed to be missing as a result of being damaged by gray wolves, in areas occupied by gray wolves, the Department shall utilize the following formula:
- (A) Number of individual sheep confirmed by the Department or its representative killed by a gray wolf multiplied by seven (7) multiplied by the value of livestock equals the amount of compensation.
- (iv) Calves in areas set forth by Commission regulation where gray wolves are designated as trophy game animals, or gray wolves in accordance with W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h). To determine the amount of compensation due to the claimant for calves believed to be missing as a result of being damaged by gray wolves, in area occupied by gray wolves, the Department shall utilize the following formula:
- (A) Number of individual calves confirmed by the Department or its representative killed by gray wolves multiplied by seven (7) multiplied by the value of livestock equals the amount of compensation.
(b) Veterinary costs for the treatment of individual livestock that have been injured by a trophy game animal, or gray wolf in accordance with W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h), shall be considered up to a maximum amount that is not to exceed the value of the livestock injured, only in cases where a licensed veterinarian believes the individual livestock in question had a reasonable chance to survive and return to a productive state. If the individual livestock died as a result of an injury inflicted by a trophy game animal, or gray wolf in accordance with W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h), even though the livestock received veterinary care, payment shall only be made up to a maximum of the value of the livestock.
(c) Any claimant who has sustained gray wolf damage located in the area described in W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h) shall be eligible for damage compensation. Each time a claimant reports gray wolf damage to the Department, pursuant to W.S. § 23-1-901(g) and (h), the claimant shall acknowledge: - (i) The adjacent area of land is outside the area described in W.S. § 23-1-101(a) (xii) (B) (I) or (II);
- (ii) The adjacent area of land is part of a contiguous tract of land a portion of which is currently located within the boundaries described in W.S. § 23-1-101(a) (xii) (B) (I) or (II);
- (iii) The adjacent area of land is privately owned;
- (iv) The private landowner of the adjacent area of land consents to the designation;
- (v) The designation of the adjacent area of land shall not subtract from or diminish the area described in W.S. § 23-1-101(a) (xii) (B) (I) or (II).
040-28 Wyo. Code R. § 28-3
Amended, Eff. 10/22/2018.