Montana cares nothing more than to wipe out wolves!!
(HELENA) After five years of the wolf being delisted as an endangered species, Montana lawmakers discussed how management is going.
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks talked about wolf numbers during the Environmental Quality Council meeting Thursday, May 05, 2016.
Currently there are more than 500 wolves in Montana and tags generated $417,000 in revenue. But an issue with managing an elk herd the Gardiner area has led to talks of a possible increase in wolf tags in the Greater Yellowstone Area.
FWP says the quota of two wolves is way below the sustainability mortality level, which led to some committee members asking questions.
“You think two more wolves increase the quota from two to four let’s say, you’re going to minimize predation so that elk population can pop?” asked Democratic Senator Mike Phillips of Bozeman.
Increasing the wolf quota by two is what FWP says is the socially acceptable number.
“This is where the social piece comes in. Actually the biological recommendation is to actually bump that up to six or eight,” explained Ken McDonald, FWP wildlife division administrator.
But, the idea of issuing wildlife regulations based on anything but scientifically driven data did not sit well with members on the committee.
“Can you assure me that this will be based on scientific bases rather than social acceptance?” asked Republican Representative Kerry White of Bozeman.
After much debate over whether or not the number of wolf tags available is the appropriate number, Representative White left everyone with one piece of advice.
“You are a science based agency to manage wildlife and I would encourage you to base your recommendations on the best available science out there.”