Feds give tentative OK to wolf hunt in Bitterroot Mountains
Montana has won tentative approval for a government-led wolf hunt in the Bitterroot Mountains, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials announced on Monday.
The federal agency released a draft environmental assessment of the state's request to shoot wolves in the West Fork of the Bitterroot that are preying on a diminished elk herd there.
If approved, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks agents would kill up to 18 of the estimated 30 wolves in the area.
On Nov. 24, Montana requested permission for a Rule 10-J wolf hunt. The federal Endangered Species Act allows 10-J hunts of threatened or endangered species when they are causing unacceptable harm to other wild animal populations. However, the hunt may not lower the state's wolf population below a total of 200 wolves and 20 breeding pairs.
Wolves are believed responsible for the West Fork's elk population decline from a management goal of between 1,600 and 2,400 animals to the current level of 764. FWP has also tried to help the West Fork elk with increases in hunting pressure on black bears and mountain lions, habitat improvement and reductions in elk hunting permits.
"We appreciate the state's efforts to submit a science-based, peer-reviewed proposal to the Service that addresses the impact of wolves on wild elk in the West Fork Unit," FWS field office supervisor Mark Wilson said in an email statement on Monday. "The purpose of our draft Environmental Assessment is to evaluate the potential effects of the state's proposed action on the natural and human environment."
The draft EA as well as Montana's plan and public comments can also be found at http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/
Written comments can be submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov or mailed to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R6-ES-2011-0022; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
The deadline for comments is April 12.
Montana has won tentative approval for a government-led wolf hunt in the Bitterroot Mountains, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials announced on Monday.
The federal agency released a draft environmental assessment of the state's request to shoot wolves in the West Fork of the Bitterroot that are preying on a diminished elk herd there.
If approved, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks agents would kill up to 18 of the estimated 30 wolves in the area.
On Nov. 24, Montana requested permission for a Rule 10-J wolf hunt. The federal Endangered Species Act allows 10-J hunts of threatened or endangered species when they are causing unacceptable harm to other wild animal populations. However, the hunt may not lower the state's wolf population below a total of 200 wolves and 20 breeding pairs.
Wolves are believed responsible for the West Fork's elk population decline from a management goal of between 1,600 and 2,400 animals to the current level of 764. FWP has also tried to help the West Fork elk with increases in hunting pressure on black bears and mountain lions, habitat improvement and reductions in elk hunting permits.
"We appreciate the state's efforts to submit a science-based, peer-reviewed proposal to the Service that addresses the impact of wolves on wild elk in the West Fork Unit," FWS field office supervisor Mark Wilson said in an email statement on Monday. "The purpose of our draft Environmental Assessment is to evaluate the potential effects of the state's proposed action on the natural and human environment."
The draft EA as well as Montana's plan and public comments can also be found at http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/
Written comments can be submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov or mailed to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R6-ES-2011-0022; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
The deadline for comments is April 12.
I threw that in for the guy on MM
