Recommendations from the citizens council appointed to help Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks develop a wolf management plan were accepted by Governor Marc Racicot last week. The advisory council was formed in May in anticipation of the wolfs eventual delisting under the federal Endangered Species Act. "After seven months of intense discussion and debate we think the State of Montana can contribute to wolf recovery and, if properly managed, wolves can coexist within Montana’s complex biological, social, economic, and political landscape," said Wolf Management Advisory Council chairman Chase Hibbard The 12-member Wolf Management Plan Advisory Council -- a mix of livestock producers, hunters, educators, environmentalists and other citizens--delivered to the governor 26 "Guiding Principles" organized in four broad subject areas that address the public interest, public safety, maintaining wildlife populations and protecting the livestock industry. The wolf is currently listed as "endangered" under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 and under Montana’s own Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1973. "This the first step toward acquiring wolf management responsibilities from the federal government," said FWP Director Pat Graham. "This group’s work is aimed directly at helping to determine how to balance wolf numbers with the deer and elk they prey upon, address conflicts with livestock operations, and how Montana’s wolf management responsibilities should be funded." An estimated 25 breeding wolf packs exist in the Montana, Idaho and Wyoming recovery areas. A federal plan currently calls for establishing 10 packs in each of the three areas for three years before delisting can occur. Under a federal proposal, however, the plan could be amended so that a total of 30 packs in the tri-state area could trigger delisting, a process that could begin in about three years. Once delisted the wolves would come under state management. Among the federal requirements for wolf delisting, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming must have management plans and other regulatory mechanisms in place to maintain the recovered wolf population within the northern Rocky Mountain Recovery Area. FWP’s Graham explained that the state wildlife agency will now begin drafting a wolf management plan that will be available for public comment and review in the spring. Following public review, an environmental assessment will be produced in compliance with Montana law to select the final management plan. That final plan, along with plans from Idaho and Wyoming, will be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Here is a summary of the group’s recommendations:
- Maintain wolf populations at levels that will prevent reclassification as "threatened" or "endangered" under federal law.
- Encourage wolves to inhabit large, contiguous public-land areas where the potential for conflict is lowest.
- Integrate wolf and wildlife management to maintain traditional hunting heritage and wildlife viewing opportunities.
- Incorporate public outreach and encourage Native American cooperation.
- Share funding among state, federal, and private entities.
- Act upon threatening wolf encounters consistent with black bear and mountain lion management guidelines.
- Enhance deer and elk populations to support wolf populations, maintain recreational and viewing opportunities, and reduce the potential for livestock depredation.
- Use hunting and trapping to manage increasing wolf numbers in a manner that will sustain wolf populations and preclude reclassification under federal law.
- Recognize that tolerance for wolves on private property is fundamental to wolf population recovery and range expansion.
- Compensate livestock owners for losses at fair market value but do not use FWP funds to compensate depredation losses.
- Provide incentives to livestock producers who use best management practices to decrease wolf/livestock conflicts.
- Allow livestock owners to address wolf depredation problems on private lands as wolf numbers increase.
- Use wolf numbers to properly address wolf depredations on livestock. When wolf numbers are low, more conservative methods should be applied; more aggressive control methods should be applied as wolf numbers increase.
In its report, the council said, "Wolves do well where prey, primarily deer and elk, are abundant. Restoration and maintenance of these prey populations is made possible through the financial investments of those participating in regulated public harvest of deer, elk, and other species. Prey populations are also dependent on open space, which in Montana, is often synonymous with large agricultural operations on private lands. Livestock operations often provide winter or year-round habitat for prey, which in turn may attract wolves and create the potential for wolf-livestock conflicts. It is important to maintain the economic viability of livestock operations that are adversely affected by wolf depredation. In the long run, this ensures habitat availability for both ungulates and wolves. Continued support and investments by those participating in regulated harvest of ungulates will, in time, lead to a regulated harvest of wolves to maintain a balance with prey populations as wolf numbers and distribution increase." Council members are:
- Chase Hibbard (Chair), Helena
- Terry Beaver, Helena
- Dr. Charles Buehler, Butte
- Darlyne Dascher, Fort Peck
- Hank Fischer, Missoula
- Robin Hompesch, Bozeman
- Jay Kirkpatrick, Billings
- Bruce Malcolm, Emigrant
- Ira Newbreast, Browning
- Bruce Tutvedt, Kalispell
- Dr. Nelson Wert, Townsend
- James Cross, Kalispell
The council’s report will be available Friday, December 15 via FWP’s website at:
fwp.state.mt.us/wildlife/wolf.
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