Wyoming Commits $4.8 Million to Predator Control Programs as Demand Outpaces Available Funding
Why It Matters
Wyoming livestock producers and ranchers depend on state-funded predator control to protect their herds and flocks, and the program’s growing price tag reflects both rising demand and inflationary pressure on operations that serve as the backbone of the state’s agricultural economy.
Nearly every county predator board in Wyoming received less than it requested for the coming fiscal year, forcing local programs to scale back even as ranchers say the need for control is greater than ever.
What Happened
The Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board convened in Casper last week to finalize its budget for fiscal year 2026-27, approving nearly $4.8 million in predator control funding for distribution to county boards across the state. The meeting was held at the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center at the Natrona County fairgrounds.
Fremont County Predator Board Chairman Rob Crofts opened the proceedings by describing a challenging winter season — sparse snow cover made tracking and spotting wildlife more difficult — yet contracted trappers and hunters still eliminated roughly 1,000 coyotes in his county alone. Fremont County spans approximately 4.9 million acres and is home to nearly 1,000 farmers and ranchers with annual sales exceeding $10,000.
Despite that pitch, Fremont County’s request of $387,000 was trimmed to $290,000, a reduction of nearly $97,000. The statewide shortfall between county requests and available dollars came to approximately $466,000. Only three counties — Crook, Sheridan, and Weston — received their full requested allocations.
Johnson County saw its request cut by roughly 16 percent, receiving $380,000 rather than the $450,000 it sought. Natrona County was allocated $322,000, about 11 percent below its application.
Federal employees with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services — who carry out lethal control operations including aerial shooting of coyotes and running traplines targeting wolves — were present at the meeting as county boards made their funding pitches.
By the Numbers
- $4.8 million — Wyoming’s predator control expenditure for fiscal year 2026-27
- $9.8 million — total two-year legislative appropriation for the Animal Damage Management Board, up from $8.4 million in the prior cycle and $5.8 million in 2022
- $1.6 million — portion of the two-year budget earmarked for projects aimed at preventing species listings under the Endangered Species Act, primarily targeting sage grouse habitat counties
- $1.2 million — annual revenue collected statewide from a $1-per-head predator fee paid by livestock producers at the point of sale
- ~1,000 coyotes — reported kills in Fremont County alone during the past winter season
Sage Grouse Funding and Federal Listing Concerns
A significant slice of the new budget is directed toward protecting sage grouse, a species facing sustained population decline across the sagebrush biome. Lawmakers required that $1.6 million of the two-year appropriation be set aside for projects aimed at keeping the bird off the federal endangered species list — a listing that could impose sweeping land-use restrictions across the West.
The board distributed $800,000 in sage grouse-specific funds for the coming fiscal year. Most counties received $38,000, while Carbon, Natrona, Sweetwater, and Fremont counties each received $65,750. Goshen County, located on the eastern plains with little sage grouse habitat, was allocated $5,000.
This effort is consistent with recent federal attention to Wyoming’s livestock industry. Federal officials have also ordered immediate action to protect Wyoming woolgrowers’ lambs from golden eagle predation, reflecting broader pressure on ranching operations statewide.
Zoom Out
The steady climb in predator control spending — from $5.8 million across two years in 2022 to nearly $9.8 million today — mirrors inflationary trends hitting agricultural operations throughout the Mountain West. Fuel costs, equipment, and contracted labor have all increased, according to Predator Management Coordinator Jerry Johnson.
Teton County remains the lone Wyoming county without an active predator board, despite a statutory requirement that one exist. Officials noted the county simply does not hire trappers. Sublette County, meanwhile, may be moving toward joining the funded program — local officials are surveying producers to gauge support for adopting the $1-per-head predator fee.
A USDA Wildlife Services district supervisor described Sublette County as challenging terrain with a “full suite of predators,” including wolves in both trophy and predator management zones.
The growing cost of predator control comes as Wyoming faces budget pressures on multiple fronts. The University of Wyoming is currently managing a $15 million budget shortfall, underscoring the broader fiscal constraints state agencies are navigating.
What’s Next
County predator boards will begin operating under their reduced 2026-27 allocations at the start of the new fiscal year. Sublette County’s board is expected to report back on producer interest in establishing a fee-based program, which could make the county eligible for future state board funding. Reporting on program outcomes is submitted annually to the governor and three legislative committees, though standardization of those reports remains inconsistent across counties.
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