BOZEMAN -- The group Defenders of Wildlife says it will contribute $100,000 over the next two years toward a new, state-run program to compensate livestock owners for losses due to wolves.

The state program will be run by the Montana Department of Livestock beginning April 15. It will take the place of Defenders' wolf compensation program, which has compensated ranchers for wolf-related losses for more than 20 years.

Federal figures indicate livestock losses to wolf predation constitute less than one percent of all livestock deaths in the northern Rockies.