Montana Department of Livestock

Here to serve the people of Montana and its livestock industry.

Livestock Loss Board

Contact Information

Department of Livestock
Livestock Loss Board
PO Box 202005
Helena, Montana 59620-2005
(406) 444-5609
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How to Request an Investigation 

If you suspect a livestock loss due to wolf predation, you can request an investigation to see if the losses were due to a confirmed or probable wolf/grizzly bear depredation. The Livestock Loss Board can pay only for confirmed or probable losses as determined by USDA-Wildlife Services. 
 
Step 1: Contact USDA-Wildlife Services to request an investigation: West District (406) 459-5943 or State Office (406) 657-6464.
 
Step 2: A USDA-WS investigator will send your investigation report to the USDA-WS state director in Billings.
 
Step 3: USDA’s Billings office will send a copy of the investigation and LLB’s claim form to the livestock owner.
 
Step 4: The livestock owner may now submit a claim to the Livestock Loss Board’s office. If the livestock are contracted at a greater value, the owner must supply a copy of the contract or if an animal is registered, proof of registration is required.
 
Step 5: The Livestock Loss Board's Executive Director prints a USDA Market Report from Billings to determine current cattle values or values as determined by the board.
 
Step 6: Brand ownership, bank mortgages, and per-capita fee payments are researched.(note; tribal members are exempt from the per-capita fee requirement, per-capita must be current in order for a claim to be paid) 
 
Step 7: Typical claims are processed that same day. Non-typical claims are presented to the full board to determine values.
 
Step 8: Livestock owners will receive a letter stating what the payment amount will be.
 
Step 9: Payment is sent to the livestock owner by Department of Livestock accounting staff.
 
Step 10: If a livestock owner disputes the value of the livestock, the owner must submit a letter to the board office and provide proof of the greater value. Appeals will be presented to the full board for review.

 

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