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Agriculture Department recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Cooperative Service Agreement 23-7306-6574-RA (FENIX 7627) with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services and County of El Dorado, for the retroactive term of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028 and the Financial Work Plan retroactive term of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 in the amount of $81,576.90 for Fiscal Year 2023-24, for the maintenance of an Integrated Wildlife Damage Management program to protect residents, property, livestock, crops, and natural resources from damage caused by predator and other nuisance wildlife.
FUNDING: General Fund and Unclaimed Gas Tax.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Wildlife Services program is a cooperative venture between El Dorado County and the United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA). In the past, the USDA provides one full time employee and the county has one full time Wildlife Services employee. The USDA-APHIS program has negotiated contracts with many counties throughout the state for wildlife services. USDA had worked with the department to offset the charges to our county allowing us to utilize the expertise and special equipment provided through USDA APHIS licenses with Fish and Wildlife for the past twenty plus years. The Department has included this amount in the FY 2023-24 approved budget.
There are two types of protection offered under this program with the main goal to control only the animals that are causing damage or injury, and providing technical assistance in wildlife damage prevention: 1. Urban animal damage. These calls involve home owners who have skunks, raccoons, or other wildlife that have taken up residence in the vicinity of their home, and are causing property damage or are a threat to either pets or human health and safety. 2. Farmers and ranchers with livestock, crop and/or property loss. Typically, these calls involve both domestic and wi...
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