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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MAY 2017 Predator program having positive impact by TOM WALKER


KAMLOOPS – The first year of the BC Cattlemen’s Association (BCCA) Livestock Protection Program (LPP) was successful. The program is overseen by


a government committee that includes the Conservation Officer Service (COS). “We have created a very


good relationship with government through this program,” BCCA general manager Kevin Boon told North Okanagan Livestock Association members at their AGM in March. “Not just with the CO’s (conservation officers), but also the federal government doing the compensation because we have given good evidence and good rationale behind it.” A carcass must first


undergo an inspection. Verification will initiate mitigation and a report is sent to the to the government for compensation approval. “We were able to design


our own program based on what had or had not worked in the past,” Boon explained. “ “It took us a while to get


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permits to work on Crown land in some areas, but the program now operates across the province.” The LPP has hired and trained 46 wildlife specialists, all licensed trappers. Retired rancher Mark Grafton, from the Prince George area, is program co-ordinator. Government funds were topped up from the BCCA budget for 2017, says Boon. In 2016, the LPP verified losses of 359 head. Prince George and the Cariboo areas lost about 100 each. The Peace had 55 verified losses; South Thompson had 40, Kootenays had 27; Skeena had 20, the Okanagan, 14, and the South Coast and Vancouver Island, two. Wolf attacks accounted for 205 cattle and three sheep kills. Coyotes killed 20 calves and 35 sheep. Bears were credited with 31 cattle and one sheep, while cougars nabbed nine sheep. “Cougars and bears are still


the responsibility of the CO,” Boon pointed out. “But we assist with verification.” Boon said birds were credited with 10 kills.


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“Ravens and eagles are included as a bird of prey, although there is not mitigation.” “Just over 200 wolves were


targeted for removal this year,” said Boon. “That is more than past programs but is in line with the program target of 2% of the estimated provincial wolf population. This low harvest rate is not going to eliminate the predation problem, but hopefully it will restore some balance.” There have been areas of


heavy predation that have required the trappers to monitor pack activity and work at removing the entire wolf pack. “In one area, we solved the


problem for about 40 miles,” Boon said. “That pack was moving in a cycle and cattle were their main source of


food. After mitigation, losses and claims stopped.” Compensation is tied to the


Western Livestock Price Insurance program. The price is based on the value of a potential October 15 delivery. “This year, it looks like slightly under $1,000 for a calf,” says Boon. “A yearly average on a bred cow got us up to about $2,100 for a cow. We pay 80%, but that’s a far cry from the $300 we got for a calf in the past.” The year's first bull kill paid $5,500, based on spring sale prices.


The program includes mitigation for harassment. “If you see your cows coming in missing a tail or an udder and they are extremely agitated, if we can prove harassment, we can do mitigation, though not


WATER metering looming “The average application is


still taking about three hours,” Boon says with notable frustration. “The government issued a helpful hints document that was 78 pages. Linda got that down to eight pages of the mandatory steps.” Livestock watering


regulations have not been released and that remains a concern. “Who will hold the license


for water on range and what are the implications if we can’t get it?” Boon asks. “The grass is of no use to us without water to go with it.” “We were expecting the


regulations to come out this spring but with the election, the soonest we can hope is the fall sitting,” says Boon. “The election creates uncertainty


compensation,” says Boon. “Most people, once they do


verification, aren’t so worried about compensation; they just want to get rid of the problem.” Boon urges ranchers to


take the self-verification course and to stay updated. “Mark Grafton has taken the course four times and he learns something new every time,” Boon says, adding that ranchers are paid to do verifications for other ranchers. The verification course also helps ranchers to build best management practices that must be shown in order for mitigation to take place. “Most will say it doesn’t bother them if the wolves are there as long as they aren’t killing cows,” says Boon. “If there are practices to keep the wolves away, they’re happy.”


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that we are not happy with.” Water metering to allow


reporting usage is also looming. He reminded ranchers that they can no longer do their own repairs or replace their pumps. BCCA, in partnership with


the province, has built a business plan for a packing plant located in Prince George. “This is a comprehensive plan that looks at the creation of the plant as well as the infrastructure that will be required for the feeding and finishing of the cattle,” says Boon. “This is a very ambitious undertaking as it will essentially build both the packing and the feeding sectors.” “The plan will include


investor/ownership options as


well as plant and infrastructure business plans.” says Boon. “The plan is complete in a draft form right now and will be reviewed by the advisory committee to insure that it is complete and correct in all estimates and assumptions before we present it to potential investors and the producers.” Werner Stump spoke about


his work with the land stewardship committee. “Forest stewardship plans


are your opportunity to get involved and protect your range land,” he notes. He took on logging blocks on his Crown range and did site prep and seeding. “I went from a range that was dying to where I now have a range with a future,” he told NOLA members.


THANKS FOR CHOOSING SIMMENTAL BULLS! SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION of BC


INFO: REANNE SANFORD, SECRETARY 250.249.5332 reanne@krssimmentals.ca


BRITISH COLUMBIA ANGUS ASSOCIATION www.bcangus.ca BC ANGUS


Tom DeWaal2President 250.960.0022 | Carley Henniger2Secretary 587.830.4175


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