AR-News: Agencies agree on plan for managing gray wolves

[jim robertson]

Agencies agree on plan for managing gray wolves


Billings _ Montana's Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission has backed the 
state's plan for managing gray wolves once they are removed from federal 
protection.

The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks had sought the commission's 
"concurrence" on the plan, which was released last month, said Carolyn Sime, 
Montana's wolf plan coordinator.

The plan was officially adopted on Thursday.

Montana must have a plan for managing gray wolves in the region in place 
along with the states of Idaho and Wyoming before federal wolf managers will 
begin the process of removing wolves from federal protection. The plans must 
assure that wolf populations will remain at sustainable levels.

Montana's plan centers on maintaining at least 15 breeding pairs of wolves 
in the state and allows regulated hunts if the wolf population is high 
enough.

The next step toward a delisting proposal is a peer review process, in which 
scientists and wildlife managers will review the state plans to determine if 
they meet their described goals and ensure the wolf population continues to 
thrive.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=091303&ID=s1410046&cat=section.Animals

_________________________________________________________________
Try MSN Messenger 6.0 with integrated webcam functionality! 
http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/tracking/reach_webcam