Sec. 3.
(1) The department shall provide indemnification for the death, injury, or loss of livestock from wolves, coyotes, and cougars. Indemnification for missing animals shall only be paid if there is a history of losses to the owner of livestock as evidenced by a prior payment by the department due to the death or injury of livestock from wolves.
(2) To be eligible for indemnification under subsection (1), the owner of livestock shall do all of the following:
(a) Report the incident to the department within 24 hours after the animal is discovered to be dead, injured, or missing.
(b) File a claim for indemnification with the department verifying the type and number of animals for which indemnification is sought. The verification may include photographs of the animals or tracks or other information that provides support for the claim. If the claim seeks indemnification for missing animals, a notarized statement from the owner specifying the date of birth of each missing animal and the date on which the animals were discovered missing, along with evidence of prior indemnification payments due to death or injury of livestock from wolves, is sufficient documentation that 1 or more animals are missing and eligible for indemnification.
(c) Upon request, provide the department of natural resources with access to the owner's property as necessary to conduct an investigation if the department of natural resources believes that an on-site visit will assist its investigation.
(d) Upon request, provide the department with documentation that the animals have official identification, if required under the animal industry act, 1988 PA 466, MCL 287.701 to 287.746.
History: 2012, Act 487, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2012