Purpose
This program compensates producers who suffer losses to eligible livestock due to attacks by designated natural predators.
Eligibility
Producers must take all necessary precautions to prevent predator attacks, take reasonable action to mitigate any injury to livestock, and ensure that injured livestock receive prompt and professional veterinary or other treatment.
Eligible livestock raised in Manitoba, including:
- Cattle
- Horses
- Sheep
- Hogs
- Wild Boars
- Goats
- Elk
- Fallow Deer
- Bison
- Llamas
- Alpacas
- Donkeys
- Ostriches
- Emus
- Other Ratites
The program compensates for livestock killed or injured from predatory attacks by bears, cougars, wolves, foxes and coyotes, vultures, eagles, hawks, ravens, and other corvidae species.
Livestock are ineligible if death or injury to the livestock occurs on public lands such as provincial or federal parks, public shooting grounds, or wildlife management areas.
Coverage
- Assessed values are based on the average commercial market price for each type and class of livestock.
- Commercial market prices are derived from either the CanFax Weekly Summary or a price list (updated as required) that is recommended by Manitoba Agriculture.
- Purebred livestock is valued at double the commercial market for animals of the same kind or class.
- Livestock is valued at the time of death or injury, except young livestock, which are valued at a weight that reflects the earliest practical weaning weight.
- Commercial and registered purebred values are limited to a maximum of 7000 per animal.
- Wildlife compensation is limited to 90 per cent of the value of the loss. (e.g. 7000 x 90 per cent = $6300).
Coverage Example
A producer discovers and reports to MASC a cow valued at $7,350.
- Losses also include all reasonable veterinary and medical expenses incurred to treat injured livestock (up to the value of the animal).
- There is no reduction of payment for producers who carry private insurance.
Maximum per Animal
= $7000
Wildlife Damage Compensation
90 %
= $7000 x 90 per cent
= $6300
Claims
The producer must contact MASC to register a claim within 72 hours of discovering the attack. All evidence should be preserved for the adjustor to view. An adjustor will assess the loss or injury.
The policy holders are the only people able to sign for wildlife claims.
Claim assessments are based on the evidence of the attack on the carcass, the attack site, and indicators of the presence of a predator.
Damage compensation payments follow the adjustor’s determination:
- Full Payment: there is sufficient evidence to prove a predator attack.
- One-half Payment: the evidence is inconclusive, but the probable cause of loss is a predator.
- No Payment: there is no carcass or there is insufficient evidence to prove a predator attack.
Other Program Details
- Producers are expected to use the prevention programs that are available and monitor their livestock to ensure their safety.
- Producers should call their Manitoba Conservation Officer for prevention assistance.
- Producers must retain receipts as evidence of treatment expenses for animals (drug and veterinary costs).
- A carcass is required for a claim to be initiated.
Program Cost
Compensation for wildlife damage is 90 per cent of the value of the loss. Administration and compensation (up to 80 per cent of the value of loss) of this program is cost-shared by the Government of Canada (60 per cent) and the Province of Manitoba (40 per cent). The cost of compensation above 80 per cent is funded solely by the Province of Manitoba.
Appeals
If you disagree with MASC’s second assessment, you have 7 days to appeal to the Appeal Tribunal.
To appeal an assessment, the appeal form (provided by MASC) must be accompanied by a letter explaining the reason for the appeal, and must be completed and delivered or sent by a delivery service that provides proof of delivery to the Appeal Tribunal. A copy of the appeal form must also be sent or delivered to MASC.
The notice must be received by the Appeal Tribunal and MASC before the end of the 7th day after the second appraisal. A $50.00 fee (refunded if the appeal is successful) must be included with the notice sent to the Appeal Tribunal.
You may appeal:
- MASC’s decision about the cause of loss or damage to agricultural, honey, or leafcutter bee products;
- MASC’s decision about the amount of production or the quantity of honey product or leafcutter bee product used to calculate the compensation payment;
- MASC’s refusal to make a crop or bee compensation payment for any of the reasons stated in “Ineligible Crops and Livestock”; and
- MASC’s assessment of the cause of death or injury to livestock.
Some issues are not subject to appeal. These include:
- dollar values for agricultural products or the value put on livestock or bee products;
- grade guarantees or quality adjustments;
- lure crops; and
- losses occurring outside of the dates set by the regulations.
