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.

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2003/04/15/news/wolf%20hearingbzbi gs.txt

AWR Note:
Just because Alternative Two is the most likely to be accepted, doesn't mean its RIGHT! This comment period is designed to give the general public a voice to let FWP know how they feel about wolf management and what alternative (if any) each individual or group agrees with, NOT which one they think will most likely succeed. Just another reason why it is so important to get your comments in. You don't have to be a Montana resident to comment on this!! Deadline for comments: May 12th

Send comments to:

Wolf Plan EIS
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
490 North Meridian Rd.
Kalispell, MT 59901

Or go to: http://www.fwp.state.mt/

AWR's Position: Support NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE

No de-listing and state management at this time.

The USFWS will continue to kill wolves. In addition, with the recent downlisting to threatened, private citizens can now legally kill wolves, without a permit, if they find them preying on their livestock on private land.

Wolves have met federal "recovery goals." However, they do not accurately represent a recovered population. Studies have shown that thousands of individuals are required to have genetic viability, not hundreds. USFWS has not conducted a population viability study based on scientific evidence. The arbitrary "15 pack" level is simply a number that has been assigned and has not been tested and proven to be a viable level. The science is not there to prove this.

According to the Endangered Species plan species must regain a "significant" amount of their native territories to be considered recovered. Wolves exist in less than 10% of their native territories. 10% is not significant. Scientific studies must be conducted to determine at what percentage of distribution would be considered "significant". These studies have not been conducted.

With all of the animosity and the uneducated accusations that natives are placing on wolves, now is not the time for delisting. Montana, as well as Idaho and Wyoming has proven that they cannot be responsible enough to ensure a viable population of wolves when in this state alone, there have already been 19 wolves killed in 2003, that's over 10% of the entire population of wolves in the state.

Unfortunately, legal and illegal killing will continue until extensive education and outreach actually begins to make a difference. We must compensate that with a scientifically-proven viable population of genetically healthy wolves that can successfully re-populate after killings that (so far this year) have wiped out entire packs of wolves.