Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program
Are you a registered farmer in the Township of Muskoka Lakes who has experienced livestock injury or loss due to wildlife?
Did you know that the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (OWDCP) provides financial assistance to eligible producers whose:
- livestock or poultry was killed or injured as a result of eligible wildlife predation (wildlife attack)
- bee colonies, beehives or bee-hive related equipment was damaged by eligible wildlife
Eligible Damages
- Eligible livestock or poultry killed by an eligible predator
- Veterinarian costs for eligible species injured by an eligible predator not exceeding the Fair Market Value of the livestock. In the event the animal dies or is euthanized, the total compensation will not exceed the Fair Market Value.
- Beehives, bee colonies and/or beehive-related equipment damaged by an eligible predator.
How to Submit a Claim
Municipalities are appointed to investigate and document claims for the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (OWDCP) on behalf of the Province of Ontario. In the Township of Muskoka Lakes, Municipal Law Enforcement Officers carry out this duty.
The Owner must notify the Township within 48 hours of discovering the injury or death of livestock or poultry, if the Owner believes that the injury, death or damage was due to wildlife.
If you meet all the application eligibility, submit your claim to the Township of Muskoka Lakes By-law Department using the link below. For more information email bylaw@muskokalakes.ca or call 705-765-3156. Once an Officer has reviewed your report, they will contact you with next steps.
- bobwhite, northern
- chicken
- duck
- goose
- grouse, ruffed
- grouse, spruce
- grouse, sharp-tailed
- partridge, gray (Hungarian)
- pheasant, ring-necked
- ptarmigan, rock
- ptarmigan, willow
- turkey
- turkey, wild
*The total weight of poultry injured or killed must be more than 25 kilograms (55 pounds) on a single application.
Eligible Wildlife Species for Damage to Livestock and Poultry
Eligible Wildlife Species for Damage to Beehives, Bee Colonies and/or Beehive-Related Equipment
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I have ready to produce to the Municipal Law Enforcement Officer?
If Officers review your submission and proceed with the next steps, you can expect an Officer to attend in person to the scene of the attack to investigate. At this time officers may request the following information:
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) number Applicants without a CRA number may need to provide their Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN)
- Premises Identification Number (PID)
- Species and type of animal (lamb, chicken, steer etc.)
- Age, Sex and weight of the injured or killed animal.
- Information about the property
IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not alter/change the scene of the attack or remove/ move the body of the deceased animal.
What makes an application ineligible?
- Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN) is invalid in the current and/or previous year or it is not associated with the applicant
- Ontario Premises Identification (PID) number is invalid
- livestock or poultry species is not eligible
- predator species is not eligible
- application is incomplete
- the livestock or poultry was diseased or sick
- the owner is not in compliance with Ontario Regulation 106/09 of the Nutrient Management Act or Ontario Regulation 105/09 of the Food Safety Quality Act (FSQA)
I’ve submitted my claim now what?
Once you submit your application, the Township will review the information and contact you to arrange a site visit. A By-law Officer will carry out a full and impartial investigation within 72 hours of receiving your application. During the visit, you will be asked to provide additional details, including clear photos and notes. Please do not remove or dispose of any carcasses until the officer has completed the investigation. The Township will submit the claim for the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (OWDCP) on behalf of the Province of Ontario. The Province of Ontario will provide the Owner with a decision within 30 business days of receiving a complete application.
Where can I look for more information?
For more information please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-wildlife-damage-compensation-program-guidelines
Contact Us
Township of Muskoka Lakes
1 Bailey St., P.O. Box 129,
Port Carling, ON, P0B 1J0
T: 705-765-3156 F: 705-765-6755
communications@muskokalakes.ca
Office Hours: 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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