Between the County Predatory Animal Boards and the Animal Damage Management Board (ADMB)

Through a cooperative marketing program between the County boards and the ADMB, a wider based Integrated Predator Management program (IPM) is to be implemented. Key to the success of this program, will be the marketing of the three statutory defined voluntary funding sources: a ten cent per head brand inspection fee on livestock; landowner coupon donations; and the purchase of the Wildlife Damage Management Stamp. By establishing the Cooperative Marketing Program, the Board has agreed to distribute 50% of the funds generated, by voluntary methods of revenue, back to the county board once it has developed an ADMB approved integrated county plan.

Suggested Criteria for County boards to follow when developing their plan:

1. Prioritized management area(s) should be accessible for recreational hunting.
2. Media should be utilized.
3. Game herds or bird populations in decline, being impacted, or increased numbers are desired.  Please qualify any statements made with available data.
4. Livestock or other economic resources are incurring losses or being impacted.  Please qualify any statements made with available data.
5. Areas of limited or no predator control should be evaluated and prioritized.  Please qualify any statements made with available data.
6. Integration of the ADMB policies into the county plan is encouraged (not all will apply to the county board).
7. Consultation with local Game & Fish Personnel is encouraged but not required.
8. Plan should be reviewed annually and changed/amended as needed.
9. Human health and safety issues should be evaluated and addressed as applicable.  Please qualify any statements made with available data.
10. Current strengths and weaknesses of the current county program should be evaluated and addressed as applicable.  Please qualify any statements made with available data.
11. Specific priorities should be outlined.  Please qualify any statements made with available data.
12. An annual written summary should be provided to the ADMB by January 7^th.

______________________________

{EXAMPLE COUNTY PLAN}

____________________________ COUNTY INTEGRATED PREDATOR MANAGEMENT PLAN

Contact: Wiley Bounty, Chairman

________________ County Predatory Animal Board

1234 County Road 23

Dwyer, Wyoming 82000

307-555-1212

The ________________________ County Management Plan addresses the prioritization of management of predators, primarily the coyote within the county’s political boundaries. Over the past 10 years, sheep numbers have declined and areas within the county that historically maintained consistent levels of coyote management, have limited to no management being conducted.

As defined by W.S. 11-6-201 through 11-6-210, the __________________________ County Predatory Animal Board is created by and discharged to "exercise general supervision over the control of predatory animals that prey upon and destroy livestock, other domestic animals and wild game; devise and put in operation those methods that best control predatory animals" and to "administer funds received from predatory animal control fees and from other sources to carry out the predatory animal control program".

The _____________________________ County Predatory Animal Board’s relationship to the Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board is set forth in W.S. 11-6-308 where "Each predatory animal district board shall: (I) Exercise general supervision in determining local priorities for the management of predatory animals and predacious birds that prey upon and destroy livestock, other domestic animals, wildlife and crops; (ii) Devise and put in operation those methods that best manage predatory animals and predacious birds; (iii) Administer funds received to carry out the animal damage management program; (iv) Maintain existing financial and physical resources; (v) Provide input to the ADMB -and- 11-6-309 where "If the predatory animal district has elected to participate in providing funding or upon approval of the ADMB, other in-kind resources, to the animal damage management account, the district may solicit funds or receive services from the ADMB under separate negotiated agreement".

The ____________________________ County Predatory Animal Board therefore evaluated its current program and prioritized areas of management that the board determined to be of crucial benefit to wildlife and livestock. This management plan to be reviewed at the December Annual meeting, may be revised as needed to address specific needs and priorities.

Page 2

______________________________ County Predatory Animal Management Plan

Three areas within the county have been identified as "in need" of predator management and all have historical high incidence of predation. Two of the identified areas are noted to be primarily coyote predation on sheep. The sheep are rotated into the pastures in these areas every third year, so predation is not an ongoing issue, only when scheduled rotation of use occurs. The third area though, has predation on sheep and calves every year and borders an antelope fawning ground. Typically, predation on livestock in this area occurs quite frequently up to approximately mid-May to June 1^st, after which, livestock depredation decreases significantly, but depredation impacts and pressure to the antelope herds increases. This area also has been a popular hunting area for local sportsmen and offers 90% public access to the area for hunting. It is the intention of our Board to prioritize predator management within this focused area.

The emphasis of the project area lies within the boundaries of Highway 18/20 to the North, Highway 270 to the east, and the North Platte River/Glendo Reservoir as a geographic boundary extending from the NW to the SE intersecting at the Hartville/Sunrise Communities. Due to the proximity to the North Platte River and Glendo Reservoir, safe havens for coyotes exist, which only leads to the increase in predation in the prioritized area. With the recreational use along the North Platte River and Glendo Reservoir, both the methods and timing of control will need to be carefully selected for implementation. An advantage to the area is that it is largely privately controlled, allowing for a variety of methods to be used, while not impacting the recreational use along the NW to SE boundary.

Management methods are to be conducted year around, but intensified during the April/May month time period, which also coincides with very little recreational use. By focusing the management during this time period, it is expected to decrease sheep/lamb/calf loss and enhance wildlife fawn survival. Methods employed will include: primarily aerial hunting during March and April; ground hunting, calling/shooting; and the use of M-44s. All three of these methods have proven themselves to be selective for the management of coyotes.

______________________________________ ________________________

Signature - PAB Chairman                                     Date

__________________________________________ ________________________

Signature - ADMB                                                         Date