Compensation for Damage Caused by Wolves

The state of Brandenburg offers an innovative discretionary benefit for the compensation of property damage caused by wolves, specifically aimed at private individuals and legal entities. Funding is provided, among other things, for damage to livestock, pasture fences, and other protective measures, provided that a wolf attack cannot be ruled out. With a funding rate of up to 100%, costs for killed animals (market value), veterinary expenses for injured animals, as well as repair and replacement of protective devices are fully reimbursed. The objective of this measure is to protect livestock holders in primary agricultural production and other private livestock owners from unforeseeable disadvantages while simultaneously ensuring wolf protection in accordance with the FFH Directive and the Federal Nature Conservation Act.

Eligible for funding are natural persons as well as private law legal entities, particularly micro-enterprises and SMEs. A prerequisite for applying to the State Office for the Environment (LfU) is compliance with the published minimum standards for the protection of grazing livestock populations and immediate damage reporting within 24 hours via the central wolf hotline. The formal written application must be submitted no later than two months after the report (exception: reports before 30.06.2024). Decisive for approval are timely damage reporting, submission of an expert report on the attack, and evidence of the extent of the damage. Fully completed application forms and supplementary documents such as receipts and expert reports ensure prompt processing and disbursement of state funds and contribute to the sustainable coexistence of livestock farming and wolf protection in Brandenburg.