by Dennis Bragg
HAMILTON- Ravalli County commissioners say they’re still working on development of a county policy about wolf management.
The commissioners have been exploring the wolf issue since last summer, seeing if the county should be doing anything to help residents cope with problems such as wolf predation on cattle and wildlife.
The first phase had been focused on gathering comments and reports from people who’ve experienced problems with wolves. Their idea would be to have a position that could direct the county’s action on the federal and state wolf management issues, or even development of local measures to help residents.
Commissioners said last fall they might have a wolf policy in place by the end of the year. But board members tell Montana’s News Station they’ve still been in “fact finding” mode, gathering additional information and research that could help in drafting a policy.
Commissioners say they hope to be ready to take their next step sometime in the next few weeks.