Benton County’s Agricultural and Wildlife Protection Program awarded over $22,000 in non-lethal wildlife deterrent grants to Benton County farmers, the organization announced this week.
Farms of any size in Benton County can apply for up to $5,000 to purchase non-lethal deterrents to protect livestock and crops from wild predators and beaver. Applications are reviewed by an award committee composed of Benton County staff, representatives from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, OSU Extension, Chintimini Wildlife Center and an at-large citizen member.
“We had a record number of outstanding applications this year and were able to fund several very high-quality proposals this grant round,” Sheanna Steingass, AWPP coordinator, said in a news release. “Besides our annual grant cycle, we do have funds available year-round for residents dealing with impacts from beavers.”
Emergency funding is available for non-lethal deterrents such as pond levelers, tree fencing or other devices to prevent damage without trapping or removing beaver from their habitat, officials said.
This year’s AWPP grantees are located throughout the county and include a variety of non-lethal deterrent projects including livestock guardian animals, new and updated fencing, and animal housing.
The next round of grant applications will be open Oct. 1 with awards announced the first week of January 2025. For more information, see the AWPP webpage.