The Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (WDCP) provides financial relief to agricultural producers in Alberta whose crops, stored forage or hives have sustained wildlife damage. Eligible unharvested crops such as hay, cereal or oilseed crops, as well as stacked hay, greenfeed, silage and haylage in pits or tubes, qualify for compensation. Producers need not participate in AFSC insurance but must hold an insurable interest in the affected crop—cash-rent landlords are excluded. Damage must occur within Alberta, except for stacked hay or greenfeed, to be eligible.

The program is funded jointly by the federal and provincial governments under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Producers pay no premiums or administration fees, but face a $25 non-refundable appraisal fee per inspection type for each damaged section.

Claims require a minimum of 10 per cent damage and at least $100 in calculated loss per crop. Unharvested crops must remain uncut until an inspection is conducted. Compensation is determined by applying the damage percentage to the commercial value, based on either insured yield or area average yield and the highest insurance price of the year. Any wildlife program compensation is deducted from production-based insurance payments. 

Producers reporting wild boar damage must notify a provincial Wild Boar Specialist, who provides recommendations to minimize further losses. Non-compliance with these recommendations amid repeat claims disqualifies producers from compensation. 

Stored crops such as stacked hay, haylage and greenfeed require notification to a provincial Fish and Wildlife Officer before filing through AFSC Connect. Recommendations are issued to prevent further damage; failure to implement them results in reduced or void compensation if multiple claims occur. Winter claims are finalized only once damage ceases. There is a compensation cap of $5,000 per inspection for these stored products.

Annual crops receive similar treatment. Eligible unharvested or contaminated crops—including those contaminated with wildlife excreta—require at least 10 per cent damage and $100 in loss. Contaminated crops are eligible for cleaning cost reimbursement or market value loss coverage, provided no action is taken before inspecting. Silage or greenfeed stored in pits or tubes follow the same conditional procedure with the same $5,000 inspection cap. Bear damage to honey hives, included since 2023 as a pilot, is subject to a filing window and penalties for missing mitigation measures: producers must install electric fencing after a first claim to remain eligible in subsequent claims.

Claims must be submitted online via AFSC Connect. Producers are advised to notify the insurer at least 10 days before harvest to allow inspection scheduling. During assessment, producers are asked to guide adjusters to the fields in question. 

For more information please AFSC