Wildlife Damage Compensation Program 2024

The WDCP compensates agricultural producers for wildlife damage to eligible unharvested annual crops caused by ungulates, upland game birds, waterfowl, bear, or wild boar at-large.

AFSC also compensates for wildlife damage caused by ungulates and wild boar at-large to harvested annual crops stored as stacked greenfeed, and silage in pits and tubes, as well as wildlife-excreta contaminated annual crops detected in storage.

Additionally, compensation is provided for bear damage to hives designated for honey production.

Bear Damage to Hives was added in 2023 as an eligible loss under WDCP as a three-year pilot. Compensation for eligible claims includes losses for honey, bee hives (colonies) and beehive equipment. Producers will need to report damage, including a self-assessment report with photographic evidence, within 48 hours or 2 business days of discovery.

Unharvested and wildlife-excreta contaminated annual crops: this program applies to all commercially grown cereal, oilseed, special and other crops that can be insured under AFSC’s annual crop insurance and Straight Hail Insurance programs. Swath grazing, bale grazing and corn grazing are eligible for compensation up to October 31.

Silage in pits and tubes, and stacked greenfeed: are not insurable under any of AFSC’s insurance programs but are eligible for a claim under this program.

Hives: hives that are designated for honey production are eligible for a claim during the period of May 1 to October 31.

The following crops are not eligible:

• where it is determined that the crop was seeded too late to reasonably expect normal yields;
• acres of damaged crop that have been harvested prior to inspection;
• where it is determined that the damage occurred after the majority of the crops in the same vicinity were harvested
• volunteer crops;
• acreage of crop that was seeded on land considered unsuitable for crop production;
• hives used for pollination and leaf cutter bees.

Unharvested annual crops: In order to be compensated under WDCP, there must be at least 10 per cent wildlife damage and a minimum of $100 calculated loss per crop. Damaged annual crops must not be harvested until after they have been inspected as wildlife claims are not made from representative strips.

Compensation is based on the percentage of damage multiplied by the commercial value of the crop. Commercial value is determined by the intended use of the crop and the yield and grade of the crop as follows:

• Damaged crops with production-based insurance will use the insured’s yield from the Harvested Production Report (HPR) or the determined yield;
• Damaged crops without production-based insurance will use an area average yield for the crop.

The yield is multiplied by the grade factor (the value of the crop in the field relative to the designated grade, when applicable) and the highest price used for production-based insurance that year. Clients with wildlife claims on damaged crops may be eligible for higher rates of compensation provided the eligibility criteria for the higher coverage under crop insurance is met; example: malt barley or organic.

For unharvested crops, losses paid under WDCP are deducted from any production-based insurance payments.

Wildlife-excreta-contaminated crops: Compensation is provided to producers who have incurred cleaning costs and/or market value loss for crops contaminated with wildlife excreta. In order to be compensated there must be at least a $100 calculated loss.

Damage caused by wild boar at-large: to initiate a wildlife claim a producer must notify the provincial Wild Boar Specialist who will provide the producer with appropriate recommendations to prevent further damage prior to a claim being paid.

If a producer has a second claim, the minimum recommendations from the Wild Boar Specialist during the first claim visit must have been implemented in order to be eligible for a full claim. If the recommendations have not been followed, no claim will be paid.

Damage to silage in pits and tubes, and stacked greenfeed: to initiate a wildlife claim a producer must first contact a provincial Fish and Wildlife Officer will provide the producer with appropriate recommendations to prevent further damage prior to a claim being paid.

If a producer has a second claim, the minimum recommendations for the Fish and Wildlife Officer during the first claim visit must have been implemented in order to be eligible for a full claim. If the recommendations have not been followed, the producer is only eligible to receive 50 per cent of the claim amount.

On third and subsequent claims, if minimum recommendations are not followed, no claim will be paid.

Claims filed for stacked greenfeed and silage in pits and tubes over the winter will not be finalized until all damage has ceased and the total damage can be determined.

Maximum compensation for wildlife damage for silage in pits and tubes is $5,000 per inspection.

Bear damage to hives: in order to be compensated under WDCP, there must be a minimum of $100 calculated loss.

If a producer has a second claim on a hive yard, the hive yard must have electric fencing in place as a mitigation strategy to be eligible for a full claim. If electric fencing is not erected, the producer is only eligible to receive 50 per cent of the claim amount.

On third and subsequent claims, if electric fencing is not erected, no claim will be paid.

For bear damage to hives, honey losses paid under WDCP are deducted from any production-based insurance payments.

Unharvested annual crops: Insured and uninsured producers are required to file all Wildlife claims online via AFSC Connect with the exception of excreta damage to an unharvested annual crop. AFSC recommends 10 days notice prior to harvest to allow AFSC time to arrange to have an adjuster perform an on-farm inspection.

Producers should check their fields to identify the damaged areas prior to filing their claims and are expected to take the adjuster to the damaged fields for AFSC to complete the damage assessment.

Wildlife-excreta contaminated crops: Producers must contact AFSC as soon as possible after first noticing excreta contamination and request an inspection. To be eligible for a payment, the annual crop must not be disposed of, cleaned or sold prior to AFSC completing an initial on-farm inspection otherwise their request for inspection will be rejected. For further details on compensation for cleaning costs and market loss value, producers can contact AFSC, or visit www.AFSC.ca.

Damage caused by wild boar at-large: Producers are responsible to notify the provincial Wild Boar Specialist and AFSC as soon as possible after first noticing damage to request an inspection and receive more detailed information. Producers can contact the Wild Boar Specialist by emailing AF.WildBoar@gov.ab.ca or by phone at 1.866.252.6403.

Producers must not hunt or trap the wild boar on their property including the section where the damage has occurred and each section that borders the damaged section when operated by the same producer. Additionally, producers must not permit access for other persons to hunt or trap wild boar on the same properties. The producer must permit the provincial Wild Boar Specialist access to their property to conduct wild boar eradication.

Damage to silage in pits and tubes, stacked greenfeed: Producers are responsible to notify Fish and Wildlife and AFSC as soon as possible after first noticing damage to request an inspection and receive more detailed information.

Bear damage to hives: Producers must contact AFSC and file a self-assessment report with photographic evidence within 48 hours, or 2 business days, of discovery of damage. To be eligible for payment, the damages must not be cleaned up prior to AFSC confirming the site can be cleaned up.