If an applicant has previously suffered livestock depredation from wolves, grizzlies, black bears, or mountain lions, the applicant must submit a summary of prior depredation(s) with the application.

The LLB, in its discretion, may consider other applicants, including:

participants in youth agricultural programs, such as the Future Farmers of American (FFA) and 4-H; and

non-profit corporations (including grazing associations) who will be partnering with or working on behalf of livestock producers. The livestock producers must meet the criteria set forth in paragraphs (1) through (3) above, must be identified in the non-profit corporation’s application, and must submit an authorization signed by the participating producers on a form provided by the LLB.

Grant applications must use the forms provided by the LLB, which are available on its website.

Grant applications must be filled out completely and submitted by any deadlines set by the LLB. The LLB is not required to consider untimely or incomplete applications.

The land on which the predation prevention practices will occur and the livestock intended to be protected by those practices must be located in Montana. A map or legal description of the land must be submitted with the application. Based on its records of historic depredation losses, the LLB will categorize the land and livestock as being located in a high-risk depredation area, medium-risk depredation area, or low-risk depredation area.

A grant may not exceed 10% of the total value of the livestock that will be protected by the loss prevention project. The LLB will determine the value of the livestock based upon the type and number of livestock disclosed in the application form and the average market value of the livestock as determined using standard LLB practices.

All predation prevention practices proposed by an applicant must be a practice identified as an acceptable predation prevention practice in policies or publications issued by the LLB, USDA Wildlife Services, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, or other publications deemed appropriate by the LLB.

Any proposed predation prevention practices must be consistent with the terms of any conservation easements, leases, zoning, or land use restrictions applicable to the property upon which the loss prevention practices will be conducted. The LLB may request an applicant to provide any applicable conservation easements, leases, zoning, or land use restrictions. If a proposed predation prevention practice is consistent with the terms of any applicable conservation easements, leases, zoning, or land use restrictions, the existence of a conservation easement, lease, zoning, or land use restrictions may not be a grounds for disqualifying an application.