Missoulian reported: The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted new administrative rules for killing wolves that pose a threat to landowners’ safety on Thursday. The rule change stemmed from a bill the Legislature passed in the 2013 session allowing landowners to kill wolves without first getting a license if they threaten human safety, livestock or dogs. But it also gave the agency a chance to clear up some confusing parts of the state administrative law book, according to FWP wildlife management section chief Quentin Kujala.
“It’s not the easiest thing to read,” Kujala said. “We took more than 1,300 public comments on this.”
The new rules also change the definition of a breeding pair of wolves – a crucial part of the federal oversight of sustainable wolf populations. While several critics in the audience at Thursday’s meeting in Helena argued the definition change didn’t match the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service standard, others said the new wording would not affect how many wolves were needed to have a viable population.
Wolf packs typically have only one breeding male and female, along with several more adult and juvenile members. The definition change affected whether the breeding pair had “produced,” “raised” or simply “had” at least two pups through the end of the survey year. The difference might affect whether a group of wolves is considered a breeding pack or not, which in turn affects population thresholds.
Some speakers at Thursday’s meeting warned the reduction on restrictions for killing wolves that threaten private property would give the state “a black eye.” Others said the rules didn’t provide enough privacy protection for landowners who use the opportunity to protect their domestic animals.
“This is a well-written rule,” said Nick Gevock of the Montana Wildlife Federation. “If you want to look at a black eye, look at Idaho. Paying government workers to go into wilderness areas and kill wolves really looks bad for the state of Idaho. I’m glad we’re not doing that. I think this helps build social acceptance if we’re going to have wolves on the landscape.”