HELENA—During yesterday's Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission meeting on wolf trapping and hunting regulations, the Montana Farm Bureau advocated for a sustainable, managed wolf population. In addition to a representative speaking at the Helena meeting, Montana Farm Bureau also submitted written comments on the issue. The commission received over 1,100 pages of public comments regarding the species' management.

After hearing comments and providing discussion, the commission voted on a quota for wolves statewide excluding a three-wolf quota in Districts 313 and 316, which are close to Yellowstone Park and a 60-wolf quota in region 3 which encompasses southwest Montana for a total quota of 458 wolves.

“What is of utmost importance is that state management of wolves be maintained,” said MFBF State Governmental Affairs Coordinator Karli Johnson who shared the organization’s views during the commission meeting. “We appreciate the good work of the department and commission to continue to manage wolves in a sustainable way while taking into consideration the detrimental effect wolves have on ranchers and being willing to continue to work to keep the population in check.”

Since Farm Bureau members lose livestock to wolf predation, management is a strong concern. MFBF outlined the many ways that wolf predation has long-term economic consequences on livestock and ranches. A recent article from the American Farm Bureau Federation outlined those, including the direct loss of animals, stress-related impacts on livestock health, and the costs associated with mitigation efforts. It estimates that wolves in Montana cost ranchers nearly $23 million through increased stress on cattle, and additional management expenses.

“It is important to note that these costs occur even when there is not direct predation; just the threat of predation can cause increased costs as ranchers take precautionary measures to co-exist or cattle deal with stress related to the presence of wolves,” noted MFBF Executive Vice President Scott Kulbeck. He added that livestock owners have made considerable efforts to coexist with wolves, but that has come at a substantial cost.

“These impacts underscore the importance of maintaining a balanced wolf population, one that considers both ecological sustainability, continued state management and the economic realities faced by Montana’s ranching community, which represents the largest segment of the state’s largest industry—agriculture,” Kulbeck pointed out.

Montana Farm Bureau supports the use of regulated hunting and trapping as responsible tools for managing the wolf population. They believe that increasing hunting and trapping quotas offer a win-win solution for Montana’s landscape and helps keep working lands in working hands and provides opportunities for hunters and trappers to engage with an iconic species.