23A-8-201. Procedure to obtain compensation for livestock damage done by bear, mountain lion, wolf, or eagle.

548 words·~2 min read·/ut/title-23a/chapter-8/23a-8-201

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/7/2025

(i)Except as provided by Subsection (1)(a)(ii) , if livestock are damaged by a bear, mountain lion, wolf, or an eagle, the owner may receive compensation for the fair market value of the damage to the livestock.

(ii)The owner of livestock may not receive compensation if the livestock is damaged by a wolf within an area where a wolf is endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531, et seq.

(b)To obtain compensation under this section, the owner of the damaged livestock shall notify the division of the damage as soon as possible, but no later than four days after the damage to the livestock is discovered.

(c)The owner shall notify the division each time damage to livestock is discovered.

(2)The livestock owner shall file a proof of loss form, provided by the division, no later than 30 days after the original notification of damage to livestock was given to the division by the owner.

(i)The division, with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture and Food, shall:

(A)within 30 days after the owner files the proof of loss form, either accept or deny the claim for damages; and

(B)subject to Subsections (3)(a)(ii) through (3)(a)(iv) , pay the accepted claims to the extent money appropriated by the Legislature is available for this purpose.

(ii)Money appropriated from the Wildlife Resources Account may be used to provide compensation for only up to 50% of the fair market value of damaged livestock.

(iii)Money appropriated from the Wildlife Resources Account may not be used to provide compensation for livestock damaged by an eagle or a wolf.

(iv)The division may not pay an eagle damage claim until the division has paid all accepted mountain lion and bear livestock damage claims for the fiscal year.

(b)The division may not pay mountain lion, bear, wolf, or eagle damage claims to a livestock owner unless the owner has filed a completed livestock form and the appropriate fee as outlined in Section 4-23-107 for the immediately preceding and current year.

(c)The division's payment is subject to a 3:1 multiplier for a bear or mountain lion damage claim if the livestock owner has demonstrated and documented husbandry practices to prevent losses including daily contact with the livestock and the use of guardian animals.

(d)The division may not pay damage claims in excess of the total number of animals of a single species owned by an individual producer.

(i)Unless the division denies a claim for the reason identified in Subsection (3)(b) , the owner may appeal the decision to a panel consisting of one person selected by the owner, one person selected by the division, and a third person selected by the first two panel members.

(ii)The panel shall decide whether the division should pay all of the claim, a portion of the claim, or none of the claim.

(4)The Wildlife Board may make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act , and enforce rules to administer and enforce this section.

Amended by Chapter 116 , 2025 General Session