CHAPTER 1 : PliRmSF A NO NKKD FOK ACTION 



CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION 



Introduction 



Gray wolves (Canis lupus) are thriving and expanding in number and distribution in Montana. This is 

 because of natural emigration from Canada and a successful federal effort that reintroduced wolves into 

 Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and the wilderness areas of central Idaho. There are probably more 

 wild wolves in Montana now than at any time in the past 70 years. Since 1974, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service (USFWS) has managed wolves in Montana, under the authority of the Endangered Species Act 

 (ESA). The biological recovery goal for the northern Rockies wolf population is a total of 30 or more 

 breeding pairs for three years in the states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, with breeding pair being 

 defined as a male and a female that raised at least two pups to December 3 1 . The biological requirements 

 for recovery were met at the end of 2002. 



But before USFWS will propose to delist, federal managers must be confident that a secure, viable 

 population of gray wolves will persist if the protections of the ESA are removed. To provide that 

 assurance, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming must develop conservation and management plans and adopt 

 other regulatory mechanisms in state law. Upon review and approval of the state plans, USFWS will 

 propose to delist the gray wolf. Upon delisting, management authority for wolves will return to the state 

 governments where wolves reside. 



Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action 



USI^S has managed wolves in Montana as either "endangered" or as "experimental, nonessential" under 

 the authority of ESA. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) proposes to prepare and adopt a wolf 

 conservation and management plan so that management authority can be transferred to the State of 

 Montana when the biological recovery goal is met. If Idaho, Wyoming and Montana do not develop and 

 adopt conservation and management plans, which in combination must assure the long-term security of 

 wolves in the northern Rockies, USFWS will not delist the gray wolf. In that case, wolves in Montana 

 will continue to be managed by the federal government. 



USFWS anticipates the delisting process could begin in 2003, if wolf management plans are completed 

 by the three states. The State of Montana would adopt a wolf conservation and management plan prior to 

 USFWS's proposal to delist wolves, but the plan would not be implemented until USFWS officially 

 transfers legal authority to the state. Under Montana statute, FWP is the agency charged with 

 conservation and management of resident wildlife. 



FWP recognizes the gray wolf as a native species and is committed to recovery of the species within 

 Montana. The purpose of the plan is to manage wolves consistent with Montana's own state laws, 

 policies, rules, and regulations. FWP intends to implement positive conservation and management 

 strategies to make sure that all federal requirements are met, recovery is complete, and that wolves are 

 integrated as a valuable part of Montana's wildlife heritage. 



FWP also recognizes that the long-term future of wolves in Montana depends on carefully balancing the 

 complex biological, social, economic, and political aspects of wolf management. FWP will consider the 

 wide spectrum of interests in designing and implementing a flexible program that is responsive and 

 addresses the challenges faced by people directly affected by wolves. 



