KPAX.com

Tagged News

• Biologists trying to avoid "crash" in elk population with wolf hunt changes Play Video

  May 23, 2012 3:52 PM

  MISSOULA- Saying Montana wildlife populations are "out of whack", state game managers hope a more "aggressive" wolf hunting season will help to prevent a "crash" in deer and elk populations. During a candid discussion with people in Missoula on Tuesday night Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks explained why they... more »

• Trapping debate dominates Missoula wolf meeting Play Video

  May 22, 2012 11:34 PM

  MISSOULA- People who are against trapping say a proposal to trap wolves during next year's hunting season in Montana is "prehistoric" and will cause "animals to suffer". But hunters and trappers defend that approach of controlling wolf populations arguing that deer and elk suffer when attacked by "nasty predators." ... more »

• Missoula wolf hunt hearing set for Tuesday night

  May 21, 2012 10:32 AM

  MISSOULA- The debate over what is being called a "more aggressive" approach to hunting wolves in Montana comes to Missoula Tuesday as state officials listen to what hunters and wildlife advocates have to say about the new proposals. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks managers have suggested the new measures in... more »

• FWP proposing trapping, longer hunting seasons for wolves

  May 7, 2012 10:37 AM

  HELENA- Montana game managers are proposing a series of sweeping changes to the state's wolf hunts, employing new techniques such as trapping and longer seasons in hopes of controlling wolf populations. Those are just some of the changes Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks staff propose for the 2012-2013 wolf hunts,... more »

• MT gubernatorial candidate discusses wolf issue

  May 4, 2012 9:34 AM

  KALISPELL- Making better use of Montana's natural resources appeared to be one of the hot topic's at this week's GOP debate between five gubernatorial candidates, but a topic that is considered by many to be the most controversial in Montana right now was not covered in Whitefish. Addressing the... more »

• Western MT wolf quotas still trailing as FWP considers hunt extension Play Video

  December 6, 2011 9:18 AM

  HELENA- Hunters may have finally hit the quota for wolves in the Missoula area. But most management zones in Western Montana are still far behind targets as the state considers a plan to extend the wolf season. This is the second season Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has staged a... more »

• Protesters rally in Helena to decry wolf hunt Play Video

  October 15, 2011 9:18 AM

  HELENA- About 25 people turned out for a rally on the Capitol steps in Helena on Friday to protest Montana's wolf hunt. A New York-based group called Friends Of Animals organized the rally, bringing in people from not only Montana but other states as well. The group was... more »

• Ravalli Co. Commission to look at wolf impacts

  August 19, 2011 11:44 PM

  HAMILTON- The Ravalli County Commission will do research and collect data to find out the impacts wolves have on their county. Commissioners spent Friday listening to people concerned the 60-day time frame to complete the research is not enough time, but Commissioner Matt Kanenwisher assured those on hand that... more »

• Montana wolf hunt tags selling in Northwest MT Play Video

  August 17, 2011 4:26 PM

  KALISPELL- There's just two weeks remaining to get your hunting tags for wolves and so far the state has sold over 3,000 permits. Despite opposition from groups who have tried to stop the hunt, it appears its still going forward and at the Kalispell Fish Wildlife and Parks Office,... more »

• Environmental group will appeal recent wolf decision

  August 5, 2011 8:45 AM

  HELENA- Alliance for the Wild Rockies representatives say that hunters will be able to kill wolves this fall, but the group is hoping to change that for next hunting season. The Alliance is appealing Wednesday's court ruling that keeps wolves off the Endangered Species List. Although he had qualms... more »

• Missoula judge to hear wolf delisting arguments

  July 26, 2011 9:24 AM

  MISSOULA- Some conservation groups want to reverse a Congressional decision to take gray wolves in the Northern Rockies off the Endangered Species List and hope that Judge Donald Molloy will side with their arguments beginning Tuesday. The conservation groups argue the Congressional "rider" wasn't an amendment of the Endangered... more »

• Latest wolf battle returning to Missoula courtroom Play Video

  July 25, 2011 2:58 PM

  MISSOULA- Conservation groups want to reverse a Congressional decision to take gray wolves in the Northern Rockies off the Endangered Species List, and are hoping Judge Donald Molloy will side with their arguments. After the latest round of court battles over de-listing the wolves last spring, Congress took over,... more »

• Wolf feeding on livestock killed near Hamilton

  July 19, 2011 2:21 PM

  MISSOULA- A Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks officials says a resident on Mill Creek Road northwest of Hamilton shot a wolf Monday that was found feeding on a lamb. The wolf was legally killed on private land according to FWP's Mike Thompson. FWP investigated the incident and say the... more »

• Montana wolf hunt quota set at 220 Play Video

  July 14, 2011 8:58 PM

  BIG SKY- The magic number for this year's Montana wolf hunt is 220. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Commissioners voted on the rules for the hunt in Big Sky on Thursday, adopting the original plan first proposed in May with one change. Commissioners voted unanimously on the motion.... more »

• Darby wolf shoot on sight permit extended

  July 14, 2011 5:01 PM

  DARBY- Wildlife services officials have halted their efforts to control wolves in the Darby area, but have extended a "shoot on sight" permit for a ranch that's already killed two wolves. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Regional Wildlife Manager Mike Thompson says the wolves are still out there, they... more »

• FWP approves Montana wolf hunt numbers

  July 14, 2011 3:09 PM

  HELENA- The wolf hunt is back on in Montana as members of Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission approved a 2011 season which calls 220 wolves to be harvested. "The approved hunting season is very similar to the one considered last year," said Ken McDonald, FWP's chief of wildlife.... more »

• Ravalli County collecting wolf encounter testimony Play Video

  June 28, 2011 8:08 PM

  HAMILTON- Ravalli County Commissioners want to hear from the public about their encounters with wolves in the Bitterroot, as well as what they lost as a result. The Commissioners are working to compile as many first-hand testimony from those people who personally lost something because of a wolf. ... more »

• Second wolf killed at Darby ranch Play Video

  June 25, 2011 4:37 PM

  DARBY- A second wolf likely responsible for killing a Darby horse last month stepped into a trap on Saturday. The USDA set up the traps and snares last month after wolves killed a horse at Two Feathers Ranch. Last week a female wolf stepped in the trap and was... more »

• Wolves kill horse at Darby ranch Play Video

  May 27, 2011 5:38 PM

  DARBY- Montana, Fish Wildlife & Parks officials gave USDA Wildlife Services and a landowner permission to shoot up to five wolves in the Darby area after they killed a horse overnight. FWP Information Officer Vivaca Crowser said the wolves attacked the horse and ran it into a fence at... more »

• Montana FWP Commission approves wolf hunt proposal Play Video

  May 13, 2011 9:00 AM

  HELENA- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials have approved a proposal to allow the killing of 220 wolves statewide. The Commission met Thursday to take public comment on the proposal which would reduce the current wolf population by about 25%. FWP staff reports with this quota the agency... more »

• Montana FWP releases 2nd wolf hunt proposal Play Video

  May 5, 2011 11:28 AM

  HELENA- Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks is proposing the state's second ever wolf hunt. The plan would allow hunters to kill up to 220 wolves this year, which marks a jump from the 2009 hunting season, where wildlife officials set the quota at 186. FWP Director Joe Maurier... more »

• Gray wolves coming off Endangered Species List

  May 4, 2011 12:12 PM

  WAHSINGTON, DC- The federal government has announced a proposal to delist the gray wolf in the Northern Rockies, as well as in the Western Great Lakes region. "Like other iconic species such as the whooping crane, the brown pelican, and the bald eagle, the recovery of the gray wolf... more »

• Idaho leaders moving closer to plans for fall wolf hunt Play Video

  May 3, 2011 8:31 AM

  Now that federal law is changing, Idaho Fish and Game managers are moving closer to laying plans to resume the hunting of gray wolves this fall. It was a month ago that Congress enacted legislation to remove wolves in the both Idaho and Montana off the Endangered Species List,... more »

• Conservation groups slam Idaho wolf emergency

  April 20, 2011 4:28 PM

  A leading conservation group says Idaho's governor is feeding "unjustified hysteria" with an order declaring the federal re-introduction of wolves to be a "disaster". Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter signed the bill from Idaho's House of Representatives Tuesday, formally declaring the federal government's re-introduction of wolves in the mountains of Central... more »

• Wolf delisting passes with budget bill

  April 14, 2011 6:05 PM

  WASHINGTON, DC- Wolves in the Northern Rockies are coming off the Endangered Species List thanks to votes in the U.S. House and Senate that approved a new budget this afternoon. The budget package passed both chambers Thursday and is expected to be signed into law by President Obama Friday.... more »

• Wolf management bill on the table in Helena

  April 12, 2011 11:30 PM

  HELENA- Legislation to manage wolves is making its way through the Montana State Legislature. The House of Representatives will have a final vote Wednesday on a Senate bill to prohibit game wardens from investigating or citing anyone who kills a wolf while the animal is on the Endangered Species... more »

• Molloy still must decide wolves experimental status

  April 12, 2011 10:20 PM

  (MISSOULA)- While most of the attention the past few days is focused on U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy's rejection of a proposed settlement in the wolf management debate, the judge has yet to rule on the question of how wolves in the Northern Rockies should be classified in the... more »

• Montana FWP chief responds to wolf ruling

  April 11, 2011 10:11 PM

  HELENA- A federal judge ruled that wolf management in Montana and Idaho will continue to be handled by the federal government. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy ruled on Saturday against a plan by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and 10 conservation groups to lift the animals from the... more »

• USFWS proposes West Fork wolf hunt Play Video

  March 28, 2011 12:55 PM

  HAMILTON- A new federally-prepared report suggests hunting wolves is the "preferred alternative" for rebuilding elk herds along the West Fork of the Bitterroot River. That's one of the recommendations in the new Draft Environmental Assessment released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Monday morning. The agency has been... more »

• Wolf settlement takes center stage in Missoula Play Video

  March 25, 2011 8:36 AM

  MISSOULA- Attorneys who want to settle lawsuits over wolves told U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy on Thursday that a proposed agreement is a "lasting solution" to management problems. But, groups against the settlement say the agreement is flawed and means "hundreds of wolves will die". The sharply differing... more »

• Wolf forces focused on Missoula courtroom Play Video

  March 24, 2011 2:17 PM

  MISSOULA- Judge Donald Molloy's U.S. District courtroom in Missoula is once more the focal point of the Northern Rockies wolf debate this afternoon, as he considers two separate issues on the controversial management issue. Molloy will hear from attorneys today who hope to learn whether he'd be supportive of... more »

• Wolf battle returns to Missoula courtroom Play Video

  March 24, 2011 9:17 AM

  MISSOULA- Federal judge Donald Molloy will hear arguments on Thursday about whether wolves in the Northern Rockies should remain an "experimental" population, which has a bearing on their status under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Department of the Interior and wolf advocates reached a deal last week that... more »

• Montana Wolf Control Act introduced into MT Legislature

  March 21, 2011 2:10 PM

  HELENA- State Senator Chas Vincent (R-Libby) has introduced a bill to manage Montana's wolf population. Senate Bill 414, also known as, the Montana Wolf Control Act, states it is "within the people's rights and the state's power under the 9th and 10th amendments to the U.S. Constitution to manage... more »

• FWP estimates 566 wolves in Montana

  March 11, 2011 2:26 PM

  HELENA- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks issued a report on Friday which states that at least 566 wolves inhabit the Treasure State. The FWP report states that Montana's minimum wolf population increased about 8% in 2010, compared to a 4% increase last year and an 18% increase in 2008. ... more »

• Montana wolf debate heats up again Play Video

  March 7, 2011 10:06 PM

  BOZEMAN- The wolf debate is heating up again. A provision inserted into a U.S. Senate budget bill could cause gray wolves in Montana and Idaho to lose their Endangered Species Act protections. The provision was included in a bill introduced Friday by Senate Democrats to fund the federal government... more »

• Agencies, conservation groups all ask for wolves to remain experimental

  February 22, 2011 9:05 PM

  MISSOULA - Lawyers for wildlife agencies and conservation groups are agreeing Northern Rockies wolves should still be considered an "experimental" population, at least for the time being. That's the essence of the arguments presented in the latest briefs filed before U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, who is trying to... more »

• Governor's decision to order wolf kills draws mixed reactions Play Video

  February 17, 2011 9:20 PM

  BOZEMAN - Reaction is divided about Governor Brian Schweitzer's announcement defying the Endangered Species Act and ordering Fish, Wildlife and Parks to kill entire wolf packs that are hunting elk and to stop investigating wolf killings. Montana's News Station spoke with two people on Thursday who represent two very... more »

• Wolf breeding pairs addressed in MT Legislature Play Video

  February 15, 2011 7:28 PM

  HELENA- A Montana legislator wants the State to set specific objectives for wolf management in the state. State Representative Dan Kennedy (R-Laurel) has introduced a bill that would set wolf numbers at a maximum of 15 breeding pairs which the measure defines as an adult male and female with... more »

• Missoula group renews call for wolf delisting

  February 3, 2011 4:28 PM

  MISSOULA - Citing new data that shows a large drop in the elk population in parts of Montana, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is once again calling for Congress to use legislation to delist wolves. The foundation also states in a press release that, "moose in the Yellowstone... more »

• FWP head supports lawmakers wolf delisting effort Play Video

  January 12, 2011 9:07 AM

  Montana lawmakers heard a proposal on Tuesday that would seek federal legislation to remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species List. Speaker of the House Mike Milburn (R-Cascade) is sponsoring the joint resolution. The bill states that the wolf is fully recovered, that Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks... more »

• Montana lawmakers to tackle wolves issue

  January 11, 2011 9:04 AM

  HELENA - Lawmakers will hear a proposal on Tuesday that would to seek federal legislation to remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species List. Speaker of the House Mike Milburn is sponsoring the joint resolution. The bill states the wolf is fully recovered, that Montana Fish, Wildlife and... more »

• Latest effort to delist wolves dying in D.C.

  December 23, 2010 12:21 AM

  WASHINGTON, DC - It appears the latest effort to permanently take wolves off the Endangered Species List is running out of steam in the U.S. Senate. A group of senators from the West had been working on another try to delist grey wolves after this year's ruling by U.S.... more »

• Schweitzer optimistic about new wolf management strategy

  November 29, 2010 9:46 PM

  HELENA - It may take an "Act of Congress" to figure out how to sort out the mess in wolf management in the Northern Rockies. That word following a meeting in Denver Monday between U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the governors of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Montana... more »