By EVE BYRON Independent Record | Posted: Thursday, December 8, 2011 8:30 pm
HELENA – Montana ranchers whose livestock is killed by wolves will be allowed to use hunters, in addition to federal agents, to remove those wolves under a proposal adopted Thursday by the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission.
Ranchers still need to go through the original process. They have authority to shoot a wolf in the process of harassing livestock, but if they don’t see it happen, they must call Wildlife Services to confirm the kill and get authorization to kill the offending wolves. If agents with Wildlife Services – a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – aren’t able to complete the removal of wolves, the rancher now can call upon a hunter to do the job.
“The idea has had a fair amount of discussion … and this is the application of another tool – the hunters – that we can rely on, in coordination with Wildlife Services and the landowner,” said Quentin Kujala, the FWP wildlife management section chief. “It doesn’t replace Wildlife Services and there may be situations where this tool doesn’t come to bear; we may find it never happens or we may find it happens often.”
The fact that FWP won’t have hunters sign up to be chosen to go after the wolves bothered some of the commission members, who worried it would create a perception of cronyism since the landowner will get to select who can go on the hunt.
But Kujala countered that the idea is to get someone on the ground quick, and Commissioner Shane Colton that said while he shared the concerns, wolves are somewhat unique and they should at least try this route.
“I think the landowners who have trouble want to select people who want to get a wolf, who are able to do it and who live down the road and can be there as soon as possible instead of relying on the department to go through a list,” Colton said. “I support that rationale for this animal, but we need to watch it closely to make sure there is no special treatment or quid pro quo.”