Grant County officials are facing scrutiny over the effectiveness and cost of their wildlife management program following a recent public meeting. Wildlife biologist and researcher, Dr. [Name], raised significant concerns about the contract between Grant County and the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) during the June 12 meeting.

Dr. [Name] highlighted that the program, which costs the county approximately $94,000 annually, has not yielded beneficial results. In 2024, the program resulted in the removal of various wildlife, including 50 coyotes, yet the documented losses to county citizens from wildlife amounted to less than $20,000. This raises questions about the program's cost-effectiveness, with a staggering cost-to-benefit ratio of nearly 5 to 1. Dr. [Name] emphasized that lethal control methods, such as those employed in the program, do not effectively reduce wildlife populations or livestock losses, suggesting that alternative non-lethal methods could be more beneficial and less costly.

Another speaker, Valerie Dobritch, a newcomer to Grant County and fellow wildlife biologist, echoed concerns regarding the salary of the county's wildlife services trapper, which she claimed is disproportionately high compared to industry standards. She called for a thorough review of the contract and the data supporting the trapper's activities, expressing skepticism about potential conflicts of interest due to the trapper's dual role as an outfitter.

The discussions at the meeting have prompted calls for a reevaluation of the county's wildlife management strategies, with community members urging officials to consider more effective and fiscally responsible alternatives. As the county moves forward, the implications of these discussions could lead to significant changes in how wildlife management is approached in Grant County.