Wolves to be Killed Near Hall after Habitual Depredations

Print

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks authorized the lethal removal of six wolves from the Hall area after several confirmed wolf-related livestock depredations and continued wolf presence near livestock.

The Willow Creek Pack, believed to be responsible for the depredations, has been living primarily on private land through the winter and spring and has been found routinely around livestock operations.   A heavy snowpack and late spring has kept the wolves at lower elevations closer to livestock, and the pack’s den site is on private land in an area where livestock will be in mid-June.

Two wolves were removed from the pack earlier this month in response to a confirmed livestock depredation on April 15.

A history of depredations and increasing risk of conflicts prompted FWP officials to authorize the removal of six more wolves from the pack through a combination of control actions by USDA Wildlife Services and shoot-on-sight permits offered to several affected landowners.   

Wildlife Services killed one wolf on April 24.   A total of five more wolves may be killed, and the pack’s collared alpha male and female and pups will not be removed.

FWP uses an incremental approach to address confirmed livestock depredations and will continue to work with landowners and grazing allotment permittees to reduce depredation risks and monitor the area for wolves.  

To learn more about Montana’s recovered wolf population, visit FWP online at    www.fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/wolf , where visitors can also tell FWP when they see wolves or wolf sign.   The information helps to verify the activity, distribution, and pack size of Montana’s recovered wolf population. 

-fwp-