Gray Wolf
Since the 1995
reintroduction efforts,
gray wolves have recolonated
many areas
of western Montana and are expanding
their range into new regions including
the Bitterroot, Gravellys and Absaroka-
Beartooths. The gray wolf exhibits no
particular habitat preference. Conservation
concerns include: variable public tolerance;
human-caused mortality (illegal shooting,
confl icts with livestock, misidentifi cation,
vehicle or train strikes);
and disease. Conservation
strategies include: assisting
private landowners to
decrease potential for negative livestockwolf
interactions; using public outreach
to increase awareness of wolf biology,
conservation, and management; adapting
management dynamically with the status
of wolf population and distribution; and
monitoring populations through blood
sampling to identify potential diseases.
