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• Montana FWP Commission to decide on wolf hunt Play Video

  July 12, 2012 9:57 AM

  HELENA- The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission will vote Thursday on proposed changes to wolf hunting regulations in the Treasure State, an issue that has been generating lots of public opinions. The wolf hunting issue is one that seems to divide Montanans, and FWP officials say they are... more »

• Gubernatorial candidate Hill addresses wolf management

  March 28, 2012 7:54 PM

  Republican candidate for Governor Rick Hill says Montana outdoorsmen and landowners are unhappy with the current leadership of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Hill says, if elected, his first goal will be to rebuild that relationship. He is proposing to change the way the State of Montana manages wolves.... more »

• FWP considering general wolf hunting season Play Video

  March 8, 2012 10:11 PM

  HELENA- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) officials are making plans to manage wolves more aggressively with FWP Wildlife Chief Ken McDonald says the agency is seriously considering going to a general wolf season which would eliminate quotas and management units. McDonald says staff is also looking at allowing... more »

• Ravalli Co. approves predator policy after months of work Play Video

  March 5, 2012 6:31 PM

  HAMILTON- Ravalli County commissioners will ask state wildlife biologists to do a better job of taking Bitterroot residents' concerns into account as they manage the growing population of wolves and other predators. Ravalli County commissioners have wrestled with one of the biggest issues in the Bitterroot for the better... more »

• Montana FWP looking at other ways to manage wolves Play Video

  February 16, 2012 10:23 PM

  On Thursday, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commissioners voted unanimously to stop the wolf hunt in the Bitterroot despite low harvest numbers. The Commission hoped hunters would harvest 18 wolves in the Bitterroot but only 6 were killed. Director Joe Maurier says residents need to remember the majority... more »

• Ravalli Co. waiting longer before adopting a final predator policy Play Video

  February 9, 2012 10:19 PM

  HAMILTON- Ravalli County commissioners want to do more work before taking action on a proposed "predator policy", a document generating a lot of interest because of its focus on wolves. Commissioners faced a room full of people Thursday afternoon as they reviewed the draft policy that was released last... more »

• Elk Foundation favors extending wolf hunt

  December 1, 2011 11:45 PM

  MISSOULA, MT -- If Montana hunters don't reach the statewide quota for wolves by the December 31 deadline, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation wants to extend the season. "RMEF believes that it is very important that hunters be allowed as much time as possible during these winter months to harvest... more »

• Attorneys argue wolf case before appeals court

  November 8, 2011 5:24 PM

  PASADENA, CA - Attorneys for conservation groups tell a three judge appeals panel Congress overstepped its constitutional authority when it ordered wolves in the Northern Rockies taken off the Endangered Species List. The arguments came Tuesday in the latest battle over protecting, or hunting wolves in Idaho and Montana.... more »

• Montana FWP asks for help in tracking wolves Play Video

  October 25, 2011 8:17 PM

  HELENA- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials are asking for the public's help in locating and tracking wolves. If anyone sees any sign of wolf activity they are asked to report it to the agency. FWP must prepare annual reports to document the status of the wolf population in... more »

• Feds to remove Wyoming wolves from protection

  October 4, 2011 5:58 PM

  WASHINGTON DC - Stating its wolf population is "healthy and stable," the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed removing gray wolves from federal protection in Wyoming. Details of the draft plan also indicate wolves can be shot on sight in most parts of the state. "After years of hard work... more »

• RMEF attorneys to argue wolf case

  October 4, 2011 4:04 PM

  MISSOULA, MT -- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation attorneys will join other conservation groups and go before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to argue against a lawsuit seeking to end state management of gray wolves and return them to full federal protection. The suit claims Congress acted unconstitutionally when it... more »

• Ravalli commissioners told something needs to be done about wolves

  August 12, 2011 10:59 AM

  HAMILTON- Some speakers at a Ravalli County hearing over the wolf issue say "rifles are the best solution" to the growing conflicts between humans and wolves in the Bitterroot. But other people urge the county to "slow down" when it comes to developing any local policy about wolf management.... more »

• Ravalli Co Commissioners to hold emergency wolf meeting

  August 11, 2011 9:59 AM

  HAMILTON- Ravalli County commissioners will turn their attention back toward the wolf management issue today, as they meet with Bitterroot residents who are worried about the growing population and its impacts on hunting and livestock. Commissioners have scheduled an open meeting to discuss wolves at 2pm in their meeting... more »

• Conservation groups appeal latest wolf decision

  August 8, 2011 5:06 PM

  HELENA- Conservation groups are taking their arguments to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, saying they still believe Congress pandered to "special interests" in ordering protection lifted for Montana and Idaho wolves. Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Friends of the Clearwater and WildEarth Guardians filed the appeal Monday, following... more »

• Wolf licenses go on sale in Montana

  August 8, 2011 4:34 PM

  MONTANA - Starting Monday, anyone can pick up a license for wolf season. This year the state-wide harvest quota is 220 wolves. That's 145 more wolves than the last season in 2009. In Western Montana alone the quota is 96. Those who buy a ticket can hunt in any of... more »

• Mixed reaction to Montana wolf court ruling

  August 4, 2011 9:27 PM

  MISSOULA- Hunters will be able to kill wolves this Fall, but the Alliance for the Wild Rockies is hoping to change that for next hunting season. The Alliance is appealing Wednesday's court ruling which keeps wolves off the Endangered Species List. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said Congress... more »

• Molloy: Wolf delisting a debatable policy change, but not illegal

  August 3, 2011 10:24 PM

  MISSOULA- U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy says a Congressional budget rider removing Montana and Idaho wolves from the Endangered Species list probably violated constitutional law. But case law means he doesn't have the authority to overturn the rule. That's the decision Molloy issued Wednesday, just a week after listening... more »

• Conservation groups ask judge to overturn Congressional action on wolves

  July 26, 2011 3:44 PM

  MISSOULA- Attorneys for conservation groups are accusing Congress of taking a "politically expedient shortcut" to take Northern Rockies wolves off the Endangered Species List. And they want U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy to say that step was unconstitutional. That was the essence of an extremely detailed legal argument... 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 »

• Bitterroot gets own wolf hunt quota

  July 18, 2011 7:13 PM

  MISSOULA- When the wolf hunt rolls around in September, hunters have permission to remove 220 wolves from Montana's wolf population. But this hunt includes something the previous hunt in 2009 did not have--a quota and specific wolf management unit for the Bitterroot. "We have a situation in the West... more »

• Wyoming looks to follow Montana's lead on wolves

  July 8, 2011 11:09 PM

  WASHINGTON DC - A lawmaker from Wyoming is looking to follow Montana's lead in order to manage its wolf population. Representative Cynthia Lummis included language in an appropriations bill to give Wyoming control of its wolves and prevent lawsuits. Senator Jon Tester did the same thing for Montana. "This provision... more »

• Ravalli County collecting wolf encounter testimony

  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 »

• FWP Commission to decide wolf quotas, other issues

  June 27, 2011 10:15 PM

  HELENA- The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet July 14 in Big Sky (at 1 Lone Mountain Trail) to determine quotas, seasons, and districts for the upcoming 2011 wolf hunt. FWP previously approved a proposal to allow the killing of 220 wolves statewide, which would reduce the... more »

• Wolf caught, euthanized weeks after Darby horse death

  June 15, 2011 8:13 PM

  DARBY- One of the wolves that officials believe was likely responsible for killing a Darby horse last month stepped in a trap and was euthanized Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regional supervisor Mike Thompson has confirmed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture set up traps and snares in May after... more »

• Elk Foundation intervenes in latest wolf suit

  June 1, 2011 5:56 PM

  MISSOULA- The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit by several environmental groups challenging the constitutionality of delisting wolves. "We were concerned when the delisting bill went through Congress that wolf management would be left open to further legal challenges. Now those fears... more »

• USDA setting traps after wolves kill horse in Darby

  May 28, 2011 7:46 PM

  DARBY- A Darby rancher is mourning the loss of his horse Jack, after wolves chased him down and killed him. "It's hard to believe that two days ago I was giving Jack treats and now he looks like that. Because somebody thought we had to have wolves around here,"... 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 »

• Montana FWP readying for possible wolf hunt

  April 13, 2011 8:02 PM

  BOZEMAN- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials are preparing for a possible wolf hunt if current legislation passes in the U.S. Congress. There's an attachment to a budget bill to keep the U.S. government operational, that's expected to be signed into law as early as Friday, that would delist... more »

• New budget bill precludes further court action on wolf delisting

  April 13, 2011 10:27 AM

  WASHINGTON D.C. - Does the new budget bill in Washington contain the "silver bullet" ending future court battles over delisting wolves in the Northern Rockies ? That appears to be the case. A rider to the federal budget bill attached by Montana Sen. Jon Tester, takes gray wolves off... more »

• Wolf rider added to budget bill

  April 12, 2011 5:44 PM

  WASHINGTON DC - If Congress passes the 2011 budget agreement, as expected later this week, wolves will come off the Endangered Species List in both Montana and Idaho. Montana Senator Jon Tester and Idaho Representative Mike Simpson successfully attached a wolf rider to the budget bill. "Wolves have recovered... 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 releases latest wolf numbers

  March 11, 2011 10:46 PM

  HELENA, MT - At least 566 wolves now live in Montana. The latest wolf management report by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks indicates that is an 8 percent increase in 2010 compared to a 4 percent increase last year and an 18 percent increase in 2008. FWP says it verified... 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 »

• GOP leadership sends letter to Schweitzer

  February 17, 2011 4:19 PM

  HELENA - The Republican leadership in the Montana Legislature wrote a letter to Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-Montana) thanking him for taking initiative on managing the State's wolf population, but GOP leaders are also using the opportunity to send a message about state's rights. In a letter dated Thursday, February... more »

• Schweitzer declares war on wolves

  February 16, 2011 6:14 PM

  HELENA - Governor Brian Schweitzer declared war on wolves. He said he is tired of drawn out litigation while wolves threaten livestock and reduce Montana's elk population. "Montana has for years done everything that has been asked: adopting a model wolf management plan; enacting enabling legislation; and adopting the... more »

• Wolf breeding pairs addressed in MT Legislature

  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 »

• Preliminary nod given in ID to kill up to 60 wolves

  February 10, 2011 7:29 PM

  Federal officials have given preliminary approval to the Idaho Fish and Game to hold a hunt to kill up to 60 endangered gray wolves in northern Idaho. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's draft environmental review released on Thursday states the agency would approve the hunt plan that was... more »

• Molloy wants to resolve question over wolves experimental status

  January 29, 2011 7:28 PM

  MISSOULA - U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy is telling attorneys for environmental groups and wildlife management agencies to gather their data and help resolve whether gray wolves should still be an "experimental species" in the Northern Rockies. When wolves were re-introduced in Central Idaho and Yellowstone Park in... more »

• MT House votes 99-1 to urge delisting of wolves

  January 18, 2011 4:19 PM

  HELENA - The state House of Representatives passed a joint resolution Tuesday urging the federal government to remove gray wolves from the Endangered Species List. Speaker of the House Mike Milburn (R-Cascade) sponsored the measure known as HJ 1 . Lawmakers say its goal is to tell Congress... more »