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The Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (OWDCP) guidelines are subject to change from time to time. Consult the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) website or call 1-877-424-1300, to find more information about the OWDC Program and predation prevention resources. In the event of a conflict between any guidelines and the Order in Council (OIC) 502-2016, the OIC will prevail.
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Notification |
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Where the owner of the livestock or poultry discovers that their livestock or poultry has been injured or killed and to the best of the owner's knowledge and belief such injury or death was caused by wildlife, the owner must contact the municipality within 48 hours of discovering the injury or death. A clerk of the municipality that receives the notification shall immediately notify the Municipal Valuer for the municipality. |
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Investigation |
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A Municipal-Valuer will make and complete a full investigation within 72 hours of receiving the notification from the clerk. When conducting an investigation, the Municipal-Valuer will document all relevant evidence including detailed, colour photographs for OMAFRA to review. |
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Report |
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The Municipal-Valuer will also complete and submit a completed application to OMAFRA within 7 business days of conducting the investigation. The owner can also submit additional evidence that may be relevant to the municipality within 7 business days of the on-site investigation. |
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Limitation on Disposal |
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The owner of the livestock or poultry cannot destroy or dispose of or permit to destroy or disposed of the carcass of any livestock or poultry reported killed until the Municipal-Valuer has seen the carcass and agrees that the carcass can be destroyed or disposed. The ONE EXCEPTION to this rule is if the owner of the livestock or poultry is required to dispose of the livestock or poultry because of the requirements set out under Ontario Regulation 106/09. The owner of livestock or poultry SHALL comply with the requirements set out for the disposal of animals under Ontario Regulation 106/09. Where the owner of the livestock or poultry is required to dispose of the livestock or poultry in accordance with Ontario Regulation 106/09 and a Municipal-Valuer has not had an opportunity to see the carcass, the death shall be attributed to wildlife for the purposes of the program provided the owner of the livestock or poultry can provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that the livestock or poultry was likely killed by wildlife and the livestock or poultry was disposed of in accordance with Ontario Regulation 106/09. |
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Compensation |
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OMAFRA will review the application for completeness and eligibility. Compensation will be assigned and the owner will be informed of the decision within 30 business days of submitting a complete application. Owner has 20 business days to appeal the outcome of their application. If no appeal is requested within 20 business days of the decision letter being issued, OMAFRA notifies the municipality that payment must be issued to the owner. |