The number of claims for animals lost to predators in Manitoba has been soaring in recent years.
Statistics from the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. (MASC) show that predator loss claims have more than tripled since 2000.
In that year, the corporation paid out roughly $150,000 in compensation for 478 animals killed by wolves and coyotes.
By the end of 2007, the figure had leapt to $483,000 on 1,598 claims.
The amounts paid out don’t accurately reflect the value of livestock because producers are compensated only 80 percent of market value for proven kills and 40 percent when proof isn’t available that predators were responsible.
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federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
Under the Problem Predator Removal Program, trappers are paid $10 per hour and mileage for catching coyotes and wolves in areas where attacks have occurred.
Dave Van Deynze, acting manager of claims services for MASC, said that rather than reflecting an explosion in predator populations, the rise in claims probably means ranchers are more aware of the program.
“That program just started in the 1999-2000 year, so producers weren’t aware of it. They were probably having significant losses from predators, but they just didn’t know they had an avenue to get some money out of it,” he said. “It may not necessarily mean that we have 10 times the amount of wolves or coyotes. It’s probably that farmers are 10 times more aware of the program.”
Cherry White, an administrator for the Manitoba Trappers Association, said increased claims are the result of fewer trappers in the province.
Sales of trapping licences have remained stable, increasing slightly to almost 7,231 last year from 6,722 in 2001.
Because possession of a trapping permit is required to sell raw furs, licence holders may include hunters selling one or two pelts in addition to full-time trappers catching hundreds of animals each season.
Wolf pelts are sold mainly into the taxidermy market. However, White said coyote pelt prices, which averaged $45 at the latest auction, have languished below the $50 floor that makes trapping them worth the time and expense, especially given the price of fuel.
Barry Verbiwski, head of furbearer and problem wildlife at Manitoba Conservation, said research has shown that with wolves and coyotes, the dominant pair in a specific area is guilty of most predatory attacks on animals.
“If you are going to address the situation, you need to target the dominant pair,” he said, adding it takes time for new animals to fill the vacuum.
For trappers hired to target the bad apples, that often means reaching further into their bag of tricks and spending more time on the site.
“But in most cases, the reason they are alpha animals is because they are pretty smart and have been able to avoid just about every kind of danger. The animals that are removed are more likely the inexperienced ones.”
The 24-hour billable hours limit for killing problem animals can and often is extended, he added, because in many cases the troublemakers are extremely wary.
