Global News - December 2007

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Up to 130 wolves set to be shot in Montana

Wed 12 December 2007 13:20 UK — North America,Other

As many as 130 wolves could be shot in the US state of Montana next year if the animal is removed from the region's endangered species list in a decision set for February, 2008.

The Montana Wolf Management Advisory Council has recommended the cull as a means to maintain the overall population of wolves in the state at around 400.

While roughly half the animals would be shot by hunters, the remainder would be killed by state and federal officials in response to the killing of livestock, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Explaining the recommendation, Carolyn Sime, Wolf Co-ordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, told the Helena Independent Record that keeping the wolf population at a stable level was necessary to allow scientists to judge the tolerance of both the local habitat and human population for the animal.

"We looked at what was too much and could jeopardize Montana's population; what would maintain what we have got; and if we took less than that, how fast the population would grow," she explained. "So we took the conservative approach, using an educated guess."

Wolves were placed on the US Endangered Species list in 1973, with the species having been hunted to near-extinction, though since their reintroduction to the Northern Rockies in 1995, their numbers have increased by roughly 30 per cent annually, the Los Angeles Times reported.

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