Montanans disagree about wolf management
By SONJA LEE
Tribune Staff Writer
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to ease federal protections for gray wolves drew mixed reactions in Montana.
Tom France, regional director in Missoula for the National Wildlife Federation, said the decision undermines progress in states where the wolf population is recovering. He said it appears the federal government is trying to get out of the business of restoring wolves in the rest of country, like Colorado or Utah.
“A better course would have been if the wolf was downlisted in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, and they could have left the rest of the country alone.”
France also said the decision will ultimately lead to litigation.
“I don’t think there is any question about that,” he said.
The decision will delay progress in turning wolf management back over to states including Montana, he said.
Others disagree.
“I think it is safe to say that we interpret it as a move in the right direction,” said Montana Stockgrowers Association Executive Vice President Steve Pilcher of the switch from endangered to threatened. “Our goal is to put ranchers in a position where they can defend their property.”
In northwestern Montana, livestock owners should have more latitude in dealing with problem wolves. Yellowstone wolves are an “experimental population” so the status change does not affect them.
“If downlisting to threatened moves us closer to delisting then we strongly support it,” Pilcher said. “We’ll anxiously await an interpretation as to the latitude that ranchers will have in protecting their property under the downlisted status.”
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Jeff Hagener said the change provides more flexibility in dealing with wolves.
“To us that’s positive,” he said.
The grizzly bear is also a “threatened” species in Montana. Threatened species still are protected by the government, but property owners have more flexibility.
“With grizzly bears, decisions are left more up to the state, and we can react more quickly,” he said.
But Hagener stressed that the goal is to delist the wolf, removing all federal protections.
The wolf population in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming has increased so much that federal biologists believe the wolf no longer needs to hold a spot on the Endangered Species List. But first Idaho, Montana and Wyoming need management plans.
Last week Montana FWP released five alternatives for managing wolves in Montana. The preferred alternative allows the agency to manage the wolf much like it manages black bears and mountain lions.