Residents find wolf plan generally acceptable
By RON TSCHIDA Chronicle Staff Writer
Montana wildlife officials appear to have struck solid middle ground with their proposed wolf management plan, based on comments at a public hearing in Bozeman Monday evening.
Presented with a range of five alternatives, most of the 50 or so people in the Holiday Inn conference room favored alternative two, the one preferred by Montana’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
But that preference was tinged in many cases with pragmatism.
“I think reality is “two” is the only one that has a chance (of federal approval),” said Bozeman resident John Paugh.
The preferred plan sets 15 breeding pairs of wolves as a sort of tipping point for management options. If the state has more than that, officials could use more aggressive population controls, such as allowing a hunting or trapping season. Ranchers would be able to kill wolves attacking or threatening livestock.
Less than 15 breeding pairs, defined as two animals that have raised pups from their birth in the spring to Dec. 31, and a more conservative approach would be required.
Paugh said he’d like to see fewer wolves. But if the state sets its management target too low the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which currently manages the big canines under the Endangered Species Act, would not let the state take over, Paugh figures.
Last month, the feds downlisted wolves to threatened from endangered. With about 4,000 wolves now living in the lower 48 states, the agency is moving toward removing wolves from the endangered species list altogether. But first, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana must have wolf management plans in place.
Belgrade resident Steve Felix, an elk hunter, said he’s concerned about the elk predation by wolves.
FWP is supported by hunting license fees and hunters must be part of wolf management, Felix said.
“If hunting and trapping isn’t allowed then no sportsmen’s dollars should be used to manage wolves,” Felix said.
The Bozeman hearing was the fifth of 13 planned around the state. Tom Palmer, FWP conservation educator, said it’s not surprising the plan is generally meeting acceptance by the public. It’s been under discussion for five years, he noted.
“Maybe ‘like’ is too strong, but they can support alternative two because it has the best chance of getting wolves delisted and properly managed by the state,” Palmer said.
Several people said they’d like to see the target level higher than 15 pairs.
Carolyn Simes, FWP wolf plan coordinator, said it’s important to remember that 15 breeding pairs is not a cap on wolf numbers. The population could be greater depending on social acceptance.
Montana currently has 16 breeding pairs, about 180 wolves and about 35 packs.
Hearings are scheduled for tonight at the Gardiner High School in Gardiner and Thursday at the Ennis High School gymnasium in Ennis.
The plan is available online at www.fwp.mt.us. Click on Montana Wolf Management in the Hot Topics box. Comments will be accepted through May 12.