The Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program (WDACP) in Wisconsin can sometimes be a little confusing. Hopefully, this helps strip it down to the basics.
Crop and livestock damage caused by the following, are eligible for compensation:
- Deer
- Bear
- Elk
- Canadian Geese
- Turkeys
- Cougars
- Sandhill Cranes
- Wolves
Not eligible:
- Blackbirds
- Coyotes
- Raccoons
- Starlings
Eligibility:
- For a crop loss claim, the person applying for the claim has to be the crop owner and also have control hunting access.
- Wildlife Services has to be contacted within 14 days after you notice the damage.
- Claims have a deductible of $500.
- Maximum of claims each year is $10,000.
Practices to use when protecting your crops and farm animals:
Sandhill Cranes – Get a shooting permit to protect your corn while it’s in the early stages of the growing season.
Blackbirds – One possibility is shooting.
Seagulls – Wildlife Services can issue you a permit to take care of them.
Canadian Geese – USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Specialist, Brain Maedke suggests oiling their eggs to prevent them from hatching. He also mentioned that if you don’t want the geese landing in your pond, you can put fishing line across it and that should stop them.
Deer/Elk – Permanent fencing should be put up and WDACP can help with partial-reimbursement.
Feral Hogs – Should be shot on site.
Bear/Wolves – If livestock are attacked, those situations need to be investigated as soon as possible.
For any other questions on how to go about protecting your farm from wildlife, please contact the Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program.
Northern Wisconsin: 1-800-433-0633
Southern Wisconsin: 1-800-228-1368
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