Montana, feds aim to manage wolves

HELENA, Mont. – Montana’s wildlife agency is preparing to join the federal government in management of federally protected wolves, the ultimate aim being to speed delisting of the predators.

“We’re going to take it slow, but with the federal funds recently made available we can expand the state’s role while we continue to work toward the rapid federal delisting of the gray wolf in our region,” said Jeff Hagener, director of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Among other things, he said, the $425,000 now available for summer work and additional funding expected later will allow the agency to participate in day-to-day management activities. That would include wolf counting and marking and helping livestock producers with wolf problems, Hagener said.

To take wolves off the threatened species list and transfer full management authority to the states, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming must each have federally approved plans. The plans by Montana and Idaho have been approved..