• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) reached an agreement that allows Montana to carry out most of the state's federally approved Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.
• The agreement is effective through June 2010, or until the wolf population in Montana is removed from the threatened and endangered species lists.
• Federal funding pays for the work of FWP's wolf management coordinator based in Helena, and wolf specialists based in Kalispell, Bozeman, Dillon, and Red Lodge.
  

The agreement gives Montana the authority to make wolf management decisions and allows Montana to apply most of its federally approved wolf conservation and management plan to:

• manage wolf numbers and distribution and maintain the wolf's recovered status;
• help landowners reduce livestock-depredation risks;
• use wolf-management techniques to resolve wolf-related conflicts, based on a benchmark of 15 breeding pairs of wolves in Montana;
• help establish an independent financial compensation program for wolf-related losses;
• monitor deer and elk populations;
• ensure human safety;
• because the wolf is still protected under the Endangered Species Act, hunting is prohibited until the wolf is delisted.
  

• First, the agreement recognizes that wolves are recovered and part of the Montana landscape;
• Second, it begins the transition from species recovery to long-term conservation, management and delisting;
• Third, it gives credit to Montana's open and diligent effort to develop a plan to meet the needs of people, wolves and other wildlife.

• The agreement applies to the entire state outside of Montana's Indian reservations. Idaho is completing a similar agreement. Such an agreement cannot be made with the State of Wyoming because it does not have a federally approved wolf management plan.

• The agreement gives Montana the ability to carry out all portions of its federally approved wolf conservation and management plan that are aligned with federal regulations;
• The agreement recognizes Montana's years of hard work and determination to build a wolf management plan that will work for people and for wolves;
• The agreement should help Montana resolve conflicts while allowing the wolf to find its place among Montana's other native wildlife and it offers a transition to full state management;
• The agreement offers Montana the ability to begin to manage wolves along with, not separate from, all of Montana's wildlife species;
• The agreement recognizes Montana's cautious willingness to take on new responsibilities and challenges and work with a diversity of interests on the way to delisting.

• FWP continues to explore various avenues for delisting with USFWS, Idaho, and other states with federally approved plans. These discussions are ongoing. Increasing Montana’s involvement now is an important step along the way and ensures a smooth transition upon delisting.

• Because USFWS did not approve Wyoming's wolf management plan, the federal proposal to delist the wolf has been delayed. Montana hopes the people of Wyoming will decide on a course of action that will give them the management flexibility they seek and one that will allow wolf delisting to proceed.

• FWP will continue to work with Wildlife Services to address damages to private property caused by wildlife. Wildlife Services will continue to be primarily responsible for field investigations to determine the cause of livestock injury or death.
• FWP and Wildlife Services will work together with livestock producers to reduce the risk of loss and resolve conflicts.
  

• Law enforcement;
• Work to delist the wolf in the Northern Rockies and litigate challenges;
• Provide funding to Montana.