Hunts For The Rocky Mountain Gray Wolves To Start This Year

Cheyenne, WY (AHN) - The Rocky Mountain gray wolves might become trophy animals when they are removed from the federal Endangered Species Act. And three states have hunt plans already in place.

Among the federal requirements for removing the gray wolf from the endangered species list, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming must have management plans and other regulatory mechanisms in place to maintain the recovered population within the Northern Rocky Mountain Recovery Area.

Both Montana and Idaho have federally approved plans in place. Wyoming's plan was approved on Dec. 15, 2007, and the state is holding talks this week across the state.

Wyoming's wolf management plan was approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Dec. 15. Acceptance of the plan broke a deadlock between the state and the federal government that threatened to leave Wyoming out of the process of removing wolves from protection granted under the Endangered Species Act.

"The Fish and Wildlife Service's acceptance of Wyoming's wolf plan is an encouraging sign that wolves in our state will soon be removed from the Endangered Species List, and that Wyoming will be able to manage wolves on its own terms," said Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal on Dec. 14, 2007, when the state's plan was accepted. "It has been a long and difficult road, and in our discussions we have achieved compromise on issues like the dual classification and the state's ability to manage wolves in relation to their impact on elk and deer."

As in Montana and Idaho, Wyoming Game and Fish will regulate the harvesting of gray wolves. Wolves in northwest Wyoming living outside of the national parks will be designated trophy game animals and will be hunted and managed similar to the way bears and mountain lions are managed.

Under Wyoming's approved plan, after delisting the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will assume management of wolves in that portion of the state where wolves will be classified as trophy game animals. In the remaining portions of the state, gray wolves will be classified as predatory animals.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that Wyoming must ensure that 15 breeding pairs or about 100 wolves are needed for a fully recovered population. There are about 360 gray wolves in Wyoming.

Wyoming's plan commits the Game and Fish Department to maintaining at least seven breeding pairs of wolves in the state and primarily outside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway. The remaining breeding pairs will be located primarily within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway.

Seven breeding pairs would be located primarily outside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway. Another eight pairs would be located within the two parks and the parkway.

Wolves outside of the northwest portion of Wyoming will be classified as predators and could be killed by anyone at any time, like coyotes.

The management plan also will allow landowners compensation for damage caused by wolves, the same way they are compensated for damage caused by bears and mountain lions.

Wyoming's plan has drawn some controversy.

Franz Camenzind, a biologist and director of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, said his group is troubled by the language that designates wolves in the northwest as trophy animals.

"Since Wyoming's plan is to allow most of these wolves to be killed, our vigilance is vital to ensure Wyoming's wolves remain protected," said Camenzind on the Alliance Web site. "The return of the wolf to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the greatest conservation success stories of our generation. From the initial release of 31 wolves during 1995 and 1996, about 300 now inhabit the region, thanks to the efforts of countless people who care."

The Alliance has more than 2,000 members, and are speaking against the hunt plan during planned talks throughout Wyoming this week.

Montana game officials said there are an estimated 835 wolves, in about 110 packs. Sixty-six of those qualifying as breeding pairs, inhabited the northern Rockies recovery area at the end of 2004.