Wyoming, Montana working toward joining Idaho in wolf hunt

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT — Idaho announced it's wolf management plans — including trapping — last week.   Montana officials plan to address hunting and management proposals this week.

Wyoming continues to be a step out of sync, although that may be changing.

U.S. and state officials said Thursday they were close to reaching a deal over how to end federal protections for wolves in Wyoming.

Environmental groups criticized the proposal that would allow wolves to be shot on sight in most of the state, the Associated Press reports. They also said a pending congressional proposal to exempt the plan from court review promises to undermine the Endangered Species Act.

Wyoming is the last state in the Northern Rockies where the federal government still manages the wolf population.

Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar said the wolf population clearly has recovered in the region and he expects to publish a rule by the end of September detailing how to turn over management of Wyoming wolves to the state.

Pressure to end federal wolf protections is high in Wyoming, where some ranchers and hunters are concerned about the animals feeding on livestock and wildlife.