GrantAlbertaN/A

Alberta Wildlife Damage Compensation Program

The Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (WDCP) compensates producers for wildlife damage to eligible unharvested crops, stacked hay, stacked greenfeed, as well as silage and haylage in pits and tubes.

Producers wishing to participate in the program are not required to have AFSC insurance to qualify for a claim.

Offered by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC)

Amount

Compensation based on the percentage of damage multiplied by the commercial value of the crop (minimum 10 per cent wildlife damage and $100 calculated loss per crop); maximum $5,000 per inspection for stacked hay, haylage and silage in pits and tubes; $25 non-refundable appraisal fee per inspection type

Open

Deadline1. Producers can now file bear damage to hives claims in April and November for colonies and hive equipment. Honey losses will not be eligible during these additional months and will remain eligible for compensation from May 1 to October 31. 2. Producers will now have five days from the discovery of damage to file claims for bear damage to hives (reporting window increased from 48 hours to five days). AFSC recommends 10 days notice prior to harvest to allow AFSC time to arrange to have an adjuster perform an on-farm inspection. Cleaning receipts, sales receipts, or evidence of on-farm cleaning must be submitted to AFSC before the deadline of January 1, two calendar years from the inspection date. After this deadline, wildlife-excreta claims are no longer verifiable and will be rejected by AFSC. Producers must contact AFSC and file a self-assessment report with photographic evidence within five calendar days of discovery of damage. Next deadline: January 1, 2027.

Official program page Find funding for my business

Checked against the program's own page on October 8, 2026.

Quick eligibility check

Years in business

No minimum stated

Employees

No limit stated

Revenue

No limit stated

Legal structure

No requirement stated

Location

Alberta

Who can apply

Producers wishing to participate in the program are not required to have AFSC insurance to qualify for a claim. Producers do need to have an insurable interest in the crop that is damaged; cash rent landlords are not eligible. For eligible crops, other than stacked hay or stacked greenfeed, the producer’s crop needs to be located and damaged in Alberta.

A non-refundable appraisal fee of $25 per inspection type is required for each section of land or portion thereof on which the damage has occurred.

Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for Perennial Crops

Unharvested perennial crops:

all unharvested hay crops that can be insured under AFSC’s Hay Insurance or Export Timothy Hay Insurance programs are eligible for compensation under this program. Swath grazing and bale grazing acres are eligible for compensation up to October 31.

Stacked hay and haylage in pits and tubes:

are not insurable under any of AFSC’s insurance programs but are eligible for a claim under this program.

Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for Annual Crops

Unharvested and wildlife-excreta contaminated annual crops:

this program applies to all commercially grown cereal, oilseed, special and other crops that can be insured under AFSC’s annual crop insurance and Straight Hail Insurance programs. Swath grazing, bale grazing and corn grazing are eligible for compensation up to October 31.

Silage in pits and tubes, and stacked greenfeed:

are not insurable under any of AFSC’s insurance programs but are eligible for claims under this program.

Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for Apiary Crops

Bear Damage to Hives:

this program applies to all commercial hives designated for honey production that can be insured under AFSC’s Honey or Bee Overwintering Insurance programs. Colonies and hive equipment are eligible for losses between April 1 and November 30, while honey losses are only eligible between May 1 and October 31.