The deadline for Montana’s Livestock Loss Board’s (LLB) 2027 grant cycle is fast approaching. Approximately $400,000 is available for prevention measures such as livestock fencing, carcass composting, guard dogs, range rider programs, and more. Applications are due by November 4 with award decisions made on December 9.
The grant application process has been streamlined and simplified recently, and reporting requirements are straightforward and common sense.
Denny Iverson runs a family ranch near Potomac in the Blackfoot River Valley and is a board member of Blackfoot Challenge, an organization dedicated to conserving and enhancing natural resources and the rural way of life in the Blackfoot watershed. “As grizzly bears started showing up, we started working on electric fencing around our calving yards,” said Iverson. “Then we had wolves move onto the landscape. They cover a lot more territory and are active the entire year. We worked with other producers and started a carcass removal service and also started using a range rider. It’s really helpful to have some tools to utilize to minimize the impact of predators on our livestock. We’ve had a lot of partners in the effort, and the Livestock Loss Board has been one of those partners all along.”
Based on livestock loss claims data tracked by the LLB, there were 225 verified livestock losses in Montana due to eligible predators (grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, and mountain lions) in 2025. To date in 2026, verified reports of depredation include 152 losses including cattle, sheep, goats, swine, livestock guardian dogs, and horses.
“The Livestock Loss Board grants are a great thing,” said Wayne Slaght, a rancher who operates near Monture Creek. “The prevention measures we’ve put in place with this funding – range riding, carcass pickup, electric fencing, and fladry – have absolutely made a difference. We have ten grizzlies on the ranch, and we have gone 25 years without a grizzly depredation.”
“We know livestock depredation is a reality here in Montana,” said Livestock Loss Board Chairman John Sampsel. “We have a considerable amount of money available for hard-working ranchers to help prevent losses to grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, and mountain lions. There are a multitude of proven methods used to deter predators, and we hope folks will take advantage of this funding to put those methods to work.”
Applications are available online at www.llb.mt.gov or by contacting the board office at livlossboard@mt.gov or 406-444-5609.
The Livestock Loss Board will meet in early December to award grants. Grant applicants will be notified of the meeting date and are encouraged to attend.
About the Livestock Loss Board
The mission of the Livestock Loss Board is to help support Montana livestock communities by reducing the economic impacts of large predators (wolves, grizzly bears, black bears and mountain lions) on individual producers by reimbursing confirmed and probable large predator caused losses and helping to reduce their losses by approving projects and funding programs that will discourage large predators from killing livestock. The Livestock Loss Board is administratively attached to the Montana Department of Livestock.
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