FWP: Montana's wolf population hits 500
About 500 wolves now inhabit Montana, equally distributed between the state's northern and southern areas, according to the 2008 annual wolf conservation and management report released today by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
FWP’s report, which is available online at fwp.mt.gov, shows Montana's wolf population increased about 18 percent in 2008, compared to a 34 percent increase in 2007. The minimum Montana wolf population is estimated at 497 wolves, in 84 verified packs, and 34 breeding pairs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced recently that it would delist the northern Rocky Mountain’s gray wolves in Montana, Idaho and parts of Washington, Utah and Oregon, but not in Wyoming. The decision was based in part on the USFWS’s determination that the northern Rocky Mountain population in the approved areas has exceeded recovery goals and potential threats to the wolf have been resolved.
FWP’s report is part of the annual federal recovery update required by USFWS. The end of 2008 count also estimates that 302 wolves inhabited Wyoming and 846 wolves inhabited Idaho. Annual reports from Idaho, Wyoming, and information about wolves in Yellowstone National Park and the northern Rockies as a whole are available online at http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov.
The northern Rockies' "metapopulation" is comprised of wolf populations in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Today, about 1,645 wolves, with about 95 breeding pairs, live in the region, where wolves can travel about freely to join existing packs or form new packs. This, combined with wolf populations in Canada and Alaska, assures genetic diversity.
Most of the increases in Montana's wolf population occurred in the northwest where the population grew by about 43 wolves, and in Montana's Greater Yellowstone Area where the population also increased by about 43 wolves.
"The rate of population growth is slowing down, in part because the best of the best places in Montana already have resident wolf packs," said Carolyn Sime, FWP's wolf management coordinator in Helena.
In the northwestern Montana endangered area, biologists estimate the wolf population at 256 wolves, in 45 verified packs, and 17 breeding pairs. In the southern Montana experimental area, biologists estimate the wolf population at 241 wolves, in 44 verified packs, and 17 breeding pairs. Twenty-three packs occur along the Montana's border with Idaho, 14 of which are included in the Montana estimate.
While wolves are still listed under the Endangered Species Act, they remain under two different sets of federal regulations in Montana. These regulations will expire and be replaced by state laws and regulations when the wolf is officially delisted. The federal delisting decision is expected to take effect by late April, but legal challenges may stall the removal of the wolf from the federal list of endangered species.
Nevertheless, the recovery of the wolf in the northern Rockies remains one of the fastest endangered species comebacks on record. In the mid 1990s, to hasten the overall pace of wolf recovery in the Northern Rockies, 66 wolves were released into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho.
"The real story of wolf recovery is that about 95 percent of the Montana wolf population now lives outside of national parks on both public and private lands," said FWP Director Joe Maurier. "It's very clear that Montana has made room for wolves and that Montanans have done all that's been asked of them in this recovery effort."
That recovery, however, has also been accompanied by increases in the number livestock killed by wolves and the number of wolves killed to resolve conflicts, as chronicled in the latest report. Of the 155 wolf deaths documented in 2008, 110 were related to livestock depredations, nine were illegal kills, and vehicles or trains struck 16. Others died from a variety of causes common to all wildlife species, including poor health and old age.
Despite the loss of 155 wolves, Sime said the Montana wolf population still increased by 18 percent, remains secure and well above recovery criteria. FWP documented a minimum of 147 pups at the end of 2008.
Cattle deaths confirmed by USDA Wildlife Services in Montana increased slightly from 75 in 2007 to 77 in 2008, and confirmed sheep death losses increased from 27 to 111. About 36 percent of Montana wolf packs were confirmed to have killed livestock. One wolf pack and lone wolves were responsible for nearly all confirmed sheep losses. Eight llamas, two horses, seven goats, and two dogs were also confirmed killed by wolves. Additional losses and injuries occurred, but either could not be verified or were determined to be "probable" wolf kills.
"We know Montana's wolves inhabit places where people live, work and recreate," Maurier said. "The key to keeping wolves on the landscape long term is having the ability to manage them by balancing wolf biology and science with the everyday lives of the people who live and work in Montana. It's not always easy, but that's what we strive for in Montana."
Sime noted that of 110 wolves that were killed to prevent further depredations, private citizens in southern Montana's experimental area killed five. She said a variety of proactive nonlethal tools were also employed in cooperation with landowners to reduce the risk of loss. For example, FWP again collaborated in several range-rider projects and provided fladry—cloth or plastic flags that are attached to wire that can deter wolves from approaching an area—to numerous private landowners.
The minimum recovery goal for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains was set at a minimum of 30 breeding pairs—successfully reproducing wolf packs—and a minimum of 300 individual wolves for at least three consecutive years and well distributed throughout the recovery area. The goal was achieved in 2002, and the wolf population has increased every year since.
FWP has led wolf management under the federal guidelines since 2004. Delisting allows Montana to manage wolves in a manner similar to how bears, mountain lions and other wildlife species are managed, guided by state management plans, administrative rules, and laws.
To learn more about Montana’s wolf population, visit FWP online at fwp.mt.gov. Click Montana Wolves.
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FWP’s report, which is available online at fwp.mt.gov, shows Montana's wolf population increased about 18 percent in 2008, compared to a 34 percent increase in 2007. The minimum Montana wolf population is estimated at 497 wolves, in 84 verified packs, and 34 breeding pairs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced recently that it would delist the northern Rocky Mountain’s gray wolves in Montana, Idaho and parts of Washington, Utah and Oregon, but not in Wyoming. The decision was based in part on the USFWS’s determination that the northern Rocky Mountain population in the approved areas has exceeded recovery goals and potential threats to the wolf have been resolved.
FWP’s report is part of the annual federal recovery update required by USFWS. The end of 2008 count also estimates that 302 wolves inhabited Wyoming and 846 wolves inhabited Idaho. Annual reports from Idaho, Wyoming, and information about wolves in Yellowstone National Park and the northern Rockies as a whole are available online at http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov.
The northern Rockies' "metapopulation" is comprised of wolf populations in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Today, about 1,645 wolves, with about 95 breeding pairs, live in the region, where wolves can travel about freely to join existing packs or form new packs. This, combined with wolf populations in Canada and Alaska, assures genetic diversity.
Most of the increases in Montana's wolf population occurred in the northwest where the population grew by about 43 wolves, and in Montana's Greater Yellowstone Area where the population also increased by about 43 wolves.
"The rate of population growth is slowing down, in part because the best of the best places in Montana already have resident wolf packs," said Carolyn Sime, FWP's wolf management coordinator in Helena.
In the northwestern Montana endangered area, biologists estimate the wolf population at 256 wolves, in 45 verified packs, and 17 breeding pairs. In the southern Montana experimental area, biologists estimate the wolf population at 241 wolves, in 44 verified packs, and 17 breeding pairs. Twenty-three packs occur along the Montana's border with Idaho, 14 of which are included in the Montana estimate.
While wolves are still listed under the Endangered Species Act, they remain under two different sets of federal regulations in Montana. These regulations will expire and be replaced by state laws and regulations when the wolf is officially delisted. The federal delisting decision is expected to take effect by late April, but legal challenges may stall the removal of the wolf from the federal list of endangered species.
Nevertheless, the recovery of the wolf in the northern Rockies remains one of the fastest endangered species comebacks on record. In the mid 1990s, to hasten the overall pace of wolf recovery in the Northern Rockies, 66 wolves were released into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho.
"The real story of wolf recovery is that about 95 percent of the Montana wolf population now lives outside of national parks on both public and private lands," said FWP Director Joe Maurier. "It's very clear that Montana has made room for wolves and that Montanans have done all that's been asked of them in this recovery effort."
That recovery, however, has also been accompanied by increases in the number livestock killed by wolves and the number of wolves killed to resolve conflicts, as chronicled in the latest report. Of the 155 wolf deaths documented in 2008, 110 were related to livestock depredations, nine were illegal kills, and vehicles or trains struck 16. Others died from a variety of causes common to all wildlife species, including poor health and old age.
Despite the loss of 155 wolves, Sime said the Montana wolf population still increased by 18 percent, remains secure and well above recovery criteria. FWP documented a minimum of 147 pups at the end of 2008.
Cattle deaths confirmed by USDA Wildlife Services in Montana increased slightly from 75 in 2007 to 77 in 2008, and confirmed sheep death losses increased from 27 to 111. About 36 percent of Montana wolf packs were confirmed to have killed livestock. One wolf pack and lone wolves were responsible for nearly all confirmed sheep losses. Eight llamas, two horses, seven goats, and two dogs were also confirmed killed by wolves. Additional losses and injuries occurred, but either could not be verified or were determined to be "probable" wolf kills.
"We know Montana's wolves inhabit places where people live, work and recreate," Maurier said. "The key to keeping wolves on the landscape long term is having the ability to manage them by balancing wolf biology and science with the everyday lives of the people who live and work in Montana. It's not always easy, but that's what we strive for in Montana."
Sime noted that of 110 wolves that were killed to prevent further depredations, private citizens in southern Montana's experimental area killed five. She said a variety of proactive nonlethal tools were also employed in cooperation with landowners to reduce the risk of loss. For example, FWP again collaborated in several range-rider projects and provided fladry—cloth or plastic flags that are attached to wire that can deter wolves from approaching an area—to numerous private landowners.
The minimum recovery goal for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains was set at a minimum of 30 breeding pairs—successfully reproducing wolf packs—and a minimum of 300 individual wolves for at least three consecutive years and well distributed throughout the recovery area. The goal was achieved in 2002, and the wolf population has increased every year since.
FWP has led wolf management under the federal guidelines since 2004. Delisting allows Montana to manage wolves in a manner similar to how bears, mountain lions and other wildlife species are managed, guided by state management plans, administrative rules, and laws.
To learn more about Montana’s wolf population, visit FWP online at fwp.mt.gov. Click Montana Wolves.
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