A federal court shortened Montana’s wolf trapping by over two months. The ruling aims to protect grizzlies.
Federal District Court Judge Donald Molloy cut western Montana’s wolf trapping season in half. The ruling also includes Hill, Blaine and Phillips Counties.
Plaintiffs WildEarth Guardians and the Flathead-Lolo-Bitterroot Task Force argue the length of the trapping season threatens grizzly bears. Mike Bader is with the task force.
"Bears have been discovered in Montana missing toes and feet," Bader said. "And they don't lose those in fight injuries. Bears don't bite each other's feet off. It just doesn't happen."
State biologists documented four bears in 2021 with missing toes or parts of legs, according to court documents.
Former state biologists and bear experts say nearly half of all grizzly bears are active within the trapping season dates set by the state
The judge ruled that the likelihood of grizzly bears being caught in traps is higher with a longer season.
"They've expanded the area where trapping can happen. The seasons are longer. The amount of wolves that each trapper can take is 10. So they've really elevated the chances of a grizzly bear getting caught in one of these traps," said Bader.
Grizzly bears are federally protected.
Gov. Greg Gianforte, issued a statement saying the case is “misusing the Endangered Species Act protections for the grizzly.” The state intends to appeal.
