Wolves

A federal court shortened Montana’s wolf trapping by over two months. The ruling aims to protect grizzlies.

For the second time this month, wildlife groups are suing Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) for violating public meeting laws. Montana FWP has announced a series of public meetings to discuss the draft Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has released the first draft of a new statewide Wolf Management Plan and is now requesting public comment.

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has admitted to violating the public’s constitutional right-to-know in response to a lawsuit filed last week. The agency must now follow conditions to improve public transparency.

Commissioners passed a statewide hunting and trapping quota of 313 wolves. That’s higher than what was originally proposed by Montana FWP, but lower than last year’s quota.

Two wildlife advocacy groups have formally notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of their intent to sue over recent changes made to Montana’s wolf trapping laws.

Montana’s estimated wolf population has decreased again following the 2022 hunting and trapping season. However, hunters didn’t kill all the wolves state regulators would have allowed.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has directed wildlife officials to develop a new wolf management plan. The plan will guide every aspect of state decisions on the species.

Conservationists are suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the lack of a nationwide recovery plan for endangered wolves.

A Montana judge has temporarily restricted wolf hunting and trapping near Yellowstone and Glacier national parks and imposed tighter statewide limits on killing the predators, over concerns that looser hunting rules adopted last year in the Republican-controlled state could harm their population.