Montana wolf relisting
by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
July 25, 2008
Wolves are Relisted in the Northern Rocky Mountains
> A U.S. Federal District Court reinstated federal Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in the Northern Rockies on July 18, 2008.
> Federal laws and regulations once again guide Montana’s management of the federally protected wolf population.
> Wolves across northern Montana are reclassified back to endangered and wolves across southern Montana are reclassified to experimental while the litigation moves forward.
Wolf Management in Montana
> FWP will retain the authority to manage wolves according to the federal regulations for as long as they remain listed and during the litigation.
> An interagency cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants authority to FWP to implement as much of Montana’s plan as allowed by federal regulations.
> FWP continues to be the lead agency for wolf monitoring, public outreach, research, and addressing wolf-livestock conflicts.
> The state program will still be funded by federal dollars.
Wolves, Livestock and Pets
> Federal regulations once again guide how FWP and Montana citizens can address wolf-livestock interactions in each of the two interim management areas.
> Across northern Montana where wolves are classified as endangered, agency management decisions will be more conservative. Also, livestock owners or private citizens are not allowed to haze or harass wolves or kill wolves seen attacking livestock or domestic dogs.
> Across southern Montana where wolves are classified as experimental, agency management decisions are guided by the 10j regulations. Livestock owners, their immediate family members, or their employees can haze or harass wolves or kill wolves they see actively chasing, molesting or harassing livestock, herding or guarding animals, or domestic dogs on public or private lands. The incident must be reported to FWP within 24 hours.
> USDA Wildlife Services agents investigate reports of injured or dead livestock and carry out FWP decisions if wolf predation is confirmed.
Wolf Hunting Season
> Federal regulations do not allow any public hunting or trapping of wolves.
> FWP and the FWP Commission had taken steps to develop a hunting season and adopt a hunting quota. However, in light of the federal court order, no licenses will be sold and no hunting would occur in the Fall of 2008.
To learn more about Montana's wolf population, federal regulations, and to help FWP monitor wolves by reporting wolf sign, visit FWP at fwp.mt.gov.
To anonymously report an injured or dead wolf or suspected illegal activity, call: 1-800-TIP-MONT.
To request an investigation of injured or dead livestock, call USDA Wildlife Services directly in western Montana/Helena area at 458-0106 or in eastern Montana/Columbus area at 322-4303. Or call your nearest FWP representative to have your call referred to Wildlife Services.
If you have a confirmed or probable livestock loss due to wolves, USDA Wildlife Services will supply you with a copy of the Loss Reimbursement Application form. For more information, see liv.mt.gov.
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