Predation & the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program

The OWDCP is a valuable resource to livestock producers in Ontario and we appreciate the responsiveness of government in the past when issues have been identified and addressed.

This year, our organization received feedback from our producers that the amount of time between reporting livestock damage and a producer receiving compensation was over six months and, in some cases, almost a year. Additionally, investigators in some municipalities are not responding in a reasonable time to producer reports of damage and livestock kills are having to be documented by producers rather than investigators to capture the required proof of wildlife damage.

There is broad inconsistency in program delivery through municipalities that leads to inequity between farmers across the province. Some municipalities send investigators right away and pay claims immediately. While others rarely send investigators and hold money even when it is transferred by the province until the municipal council approves the transfer, causing significant delay.

Our boards recommend the province administer the program equitably to all producers by introducing an online wildlife damage reporting form. We understand that a form may already exist and be in use for farmers in unorganized townships. Producers can submit their own photos and investigators can be engaged only when the province requires additional information.

This reduction of red tape will save the province and municipalities thousands of dollars in administration time and the cost of investigators for every claim.

Additionally, Ontario Sheep Farmers has received multiple resolutions to our board and calls from producers, related to the valuation of commercial breeding stock lost to predation. Presently, commercial breeding stock is only compensated at the cull animal meat price. The cull animal value does not truly reflect any breeding stock value. There is no compensation value given for the many years and thousands of dollars of investment in a commercial breeding program and the future flock genetic improvement these animals represent. Commercial or non-purebred genetics does not mean they are of lower quality than purebred genetics. In many purchases, the commercial ewe genetics have a value premium due to hybrid vigor resulting from the genetic crosses and selection for specific traits inherent in other breeds.

Ontario Sheep Farmers recommends an annual survey of sheep breeders reporting actual values of commercial and purebred breeding stock sold. The survey can also help identify the added value for specific breeds utilized for their quality wool or their dairy milk production. Similar to meat breeding stock, the actual value of these animals is significantly more than the cull meat price. The survey could also determine a value for livestock guardian dogs when they are also lost to predation.

In addition to concerns regarding wildlife predation, Ontario farmers also face losses from domestic dog attacks, yet the compensation framework for these incidents remains outdated and inconsistent with the support provided under the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (OWDCP). While the OWDCP provides compensation to poultry and livestock producers at market value based on industry-recognized pricing, losses caused by domestic dogs fall under the Protection of Livestock and Poultry from Dogs Act, which does not follow the same valuation approach. This discrepancy results in significantly lower compensation rates for producers who experience losses due to domestic dog attacks.

The lack of regular updates to compensation rates under this separate legislative framework creates an unjust financial burden for affected producers. This disparity does not reflect the true economic loss suffered by farmers and fails to provide adequate support for their livestock protection efforts.

We recommend harmonizing the compensation structure for livestock losses caused by domestic dogs with the OWDCP model, ensuring that all producers receive fair and up-to-date compensation based on industry standards. Aligning these programs will create a more equitable system, recognizing that the source of predation – whether wildlife or domestic dogs – should not determine the financial viability of a farm business recovering from a loss.