financial and technical assistance
Learn about financial support that may be available to help mitigate conflicts between carnivores, livestock, and communities. Applications will soon be available for two new funding programs to help Montanans proactively protect livestock and communities.
applications are available for two new funding Programs help Montanans Mitigate Conflicts Between Carnivores, Livestock, and Communities:
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
This funding program will support conflict prevention activities through May 2029 and will be overseen by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
This funding provided by the US Department of Interior will support conflict prevention activities through July 2027 and will be overseen by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and the Montana-based Heart of the Rockies Initiative.
how this works
Both grant programs offer reimbursements to help cover the costs of adopting several types of carnivore conflict prevention tools that have proven effective.
Interested applicants work with Heart of the Rockies Initiative to identify the level of financial and technical assistance they need and which grant program can best serve those needs. Contact us at [email protected] to learn more.
Successful applicants enter into a contract to ensure they receive timely reimbursements for construction, labor, and other associated project costs.
who is eligible?
Tribes, agricultural producers and landowners, community/watershed groups, and any groups or individuals responsible for implementing carnivore conflict prevention activities are eligible to receive financial and technical assistance.
WHAT TYPES OF TOOLS ARE COVERED BY THIS FUNDING?
RCPP
- Range riding
- Livestock carcass management (including pick-up, removal)
- Electric fencing (including electric drive-over mats).
NFWF
- Range riding, livestock carcass management & electric fencing
- Community outreach and education
- Bear-resistant garbage services and infrastructure, and electric fencing to secure community attractants.
what program is best for me?
RCPP
>This program is ideal for individual producers and landowners interested in implementing range riding, carcass management, or electric fencing.
>All projects and activities will be covered under contracts with the local NRCS office.
> While groups and organizations are not eligible for RCPP, if individuals are currently participating in a community-led range riding or carcass management program or are interested in doing so, please contact Heart of the Rockies Initiative staff using the contact information provided below to learn how RCPP may support your participation.
NFWF
> This program is best for community groups and organizations aiming to implement conflict prevention programs or Bear Smart and bear-resistant garbage initiatives.
> All projects and activities will be covered under contracts with Heart of the Rockies Initiative.
how do i apply?
Before applying for either grant, we encourage you to identify your overall conflict prevention needs and then contact Heart of the Rockies Initiative to explore strategies to best address those needs utilizing both sources of grant funding.
Please send an email to [email protected] with your preferred contact information and any other information you’d like to include. Steve Primm, our Project Manager, will contact you to discuss your particular situation and needs. Steve can also be reached at 406-282-1418.
RCPP
> The NRCS enrollment period is currently open until December 13, 2024. Interested applicants should contact their local NRCS office for an application and to discuss their project.
> Project applications will be evaluated over the winter, with contracts for approved projects signed in early summer 2025.
>Cost-share reimbursements are expected to begin in summer 2025. Subsequent signup periods will occur each year in October as long as there is available funding for new projects.
NFWF
> Initial contracts will begin in November 2024 for existing program partners.
> Heart of the Rockies Initiative will then accept applications on a rolling basis, with proposals evaluated quarterly.
> This schedule may adjust based on the volume of proposals and remaining funds.
what to know before you apply
how much can i apply for?
There is no limit on how much funding you can request through the NFWF grant. For RCPP projects, you do not directly request funding, but rather propose activities to be accomplished. If approved, NRCS will reimburse a pre-defined rate for those activities.
General rates are found below and more details can be provided by local NRCS offices. RCPP contracts lock in the rates below for the duration of the grant (through May 2029). These rates are likely to be adjusted after the first year and contracts in subsequent years will likely reflect reduced rates.
645: Range Riding
Herd Size in Animal Units | Standard Rate/AU | Historically Underserved Rate |
Over 1,000 AUs | $49.94 | $59.92 |
251 to 1,000 | $63.98 | $76.78 |
100-250 | $83.42 | $100.11 |
Cow-calf pairs will range from 1 to 1.3 AU’s, depending on cow weight and calf age.
Yearling cattle will range from 0.56 to .75 depending on age
Bulls over 24 months = 1.5 AU
Sheep: ewe with lamb = 0.17 AU’s, or 6 ewes with lambs = 1 AU.
645: Turbo Fladry
Turbo Fladry Carnivore Deterrent Fence | Standard Rate/AU | Historically Underserved Rate |
Year One | $1.30/foot | $1.56/foot |
Years Two Through Five | $0.40 / foot | $0.48 / foot |
830: Animal Mortality Management
Animal Class | Standard Rate/AU | Historically Underserved Rate |
Mature cattle, horses, other | $290.58 | $418.44 |
Calves, goats, sheep | $96.49 | $138.94 |
649: Structures for Wildlife
Large Carnivore Deterrent Structures | Standard Rate/AU | Historically Underserved Rate |
5-strand electric fence | $2.31 / foot | $3.33 / foot |
Electrified drive-over mats, 12’ (for gateways) | $2,477.61 | $3,567.76 |
Are Match funds required?
Both grant programs are intended to help support conflict prevention activities. Matching funds will be required for the NFWF grant; however, we also recognize that securing matching funds may be difficult. We encourage you to contact Heart of the Rockies Initiative to discuss options. Formal matching funds will not be required for the RCPP grant; however, in some cases, RCPP funds may only reimburse a portion of the costs of implementation; participating landowners and producers would then be required to cover the remaining costs to allow for project completion.
How will proposals be ranked?
Submitted proposals will be ranked based on the potential impact they will have on preventing carnivore conflicts. NFWF proposals will be evaluated by a committee composed of NGO and agency partners currently supporting similar work in communities across Montana. Successful proposals will (1) demonstrate a clear need(s), (2) include a specific budget request, (3) identify other project partners and roles and responsibilities for implementation and project tracking, (4) ideally bring at least 10% in matching funds to the project, and (5) identify an organization, nonprofit, or other entity that can enter into a contract with Heart of the Rockies Initiative for fund delivery.
RCPP proposals will be evaluated using several criteria. Proposals for projects in high conflict counties (see map below) will be evaluated for funding first. Proposals that include range riding – either alone or in combination with other activities – will be prioritized. Additional factors that will result in higher ranking scores include (1) if an applicant has experienced a documented (agency confirmed) depredation in the past, (2) if the applicant is part of a community-led program that also supports the activity, (3) if the applicant qualifies as a Historically Underserved Farmer or Rancher, and (4) if the applicant has conflicts with both grizzly bears and wolves.
additional information
is funding only for grizzly bear conflict prevention?
NFWF funds are specifically intended to support grizzly bear conflict prevention activities, and, as such, any proposed projects will be evaluated based on their potential to prevent future grizzly bear conflicts.
RCPP funds are intended to support activities that prevent agricultural conflicts with grizzly bears and wolves. Proposed activities focused solely on preventing conflicts with wolves would be considered for RCPP funding, but not NFWF funding.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER METHODS THAT REDUCE WILDLIFE CONFLICTS?
These grants focus on conflict prevention, which is one of several important tools in wildlife management. A holistic approach to reducing wildlife conflicts includes the 4 C’s:
- Compensation: Financial payments that cover losses from wildlife damage and reward land stewards for maintaining healthy rangelands and wildlife habitat.
- Conflict Prevention: Non-lethal practices that limit attractants, establish human presence, and monitor livestock. Examples include range riding, carcass management, electric fencing, and deterrent devices, which benefit both wildlife and agricultural operations.
- Control: Lethal removal of wildlife to reduce damage and achieve population goals.
- Collaboration: Involves diverse stakeholders in developing wildlife policies and land management plans, fostering respectful dialogue, shared learning, and mutually beneficial solutions.
WHAT ROLES DO STATE AND FEDERAL WILDLIFE AGENCIES PLAY?
This new funding is a result of new partnerships between Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; Natural Resources Conservation Service; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations representing agricultural, wildlife, and rural community interests. Conflict prevention works best when agencies can draw-on local knowledge and learn from the lived-experiences of landowners.
What kind of technical assistance is available to help implement these tools?
Implementation of these tools will be supported by a diverse set of partners, including both state and federal agency staff, as well as NGO staff with expertise in the use of these tools. Partners are committed to assisting participating producers, landowners, and communities in implementing these solutions in ways that will best meet their individual needs.
Can funding be used for guard dogs?
Unfortunately, guard dogs are not an eligible activity under NRCS programs; therefore, RCPP funding cannot be used to support their use. Since guard dogs are nearly always used on individual ranches and not on a community scale, they would not be a good fit for the NFWF funding.
Do electric fences cause wildfires?
Properly constructed and maintained electric fences are highly unlikely to start a fire. There have been a handful of fires that may have resulted from improperly constructed electric fence. Please consult with electric fence professionals for guidance on construction and maintenance of electric fence.
Will this funding cover the maintenance costs of these tools over time?
Funding is intended to support the adoption and expansion of conflict prevention practices. Maintenance costs will be the responsibility of project participants.
Does it matter what size operation I have?
All operations, regardless of size, are eligible for funding as long as they are located within the project areas (generally within occupied grizzly bear and wolf territory). While some larger projects may be prioritized for their broader impact on carnivore conflict prevention, we strongly encourage all operations to apply. Funding may be available for smaller projects as well, and every application will be carefully considered based on its potential to reduce conflicts.