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Regardless of historical events and how present circumstances evolved, tolerance for wolves on private 

 property has been fundamental to the overall success of the federal wolf recovery program. This is 

 highlighted by Montana's patchwork of public and private lands and how wolves have distributed 

 themselves. During the state's scoping process for this EIS, wolf presence on private property and how 

 wolf-livestock conflicts would be resolved (in the context of livestock being private property) were also 

 raised. 



Hybrids 



Hybrids result from the breeding of Canis lupus with domestic dogs (C familiaris), resulting in variable 

 combinations of physical traits and behaviors. Much of the normal predatory behaviors of wild wolves 

 disappeared in domestic dogs. But the predatory instincts are still present to an unknown and 

 unpredictable degree in wolf-dog hybrids. Although hybrids commonly lack a fear of humans, the 

 animals are generally poorly adapted as domestic pets because their behavior is unpredictable and their 

 response to general obedience training is poor. While the keeping of captive wolves and hybrids as pets 

 is rewarding to some individuals, others find it unmanageable and try to find new homes for their pets. 

 Hybrids have been released into the wild and others apparently escaped from their owners. The potential 

 for genetic pollution of wild populations, human safety issues, and erosion of public acceptance for wild 

 wolves are commonly cited problems with private ownership of captives or hybrids and release of these 

 animals in the wild. 



Methods to distinguish non-native wolf-like canids from native wild wolves in the northern Rockies 

 include a combination of genetic analyses, morphology, and behavior (Boyd et al. 2001 ). At present, 

 there is no genetic or other evidence that captive wolves, wolf-dog hybrids, domestic dogs, and coyotes 

 interbred with native Rocky Mountain wolves in the wild (Boyd et al. 2001 ). Wolves and coyotes can be 

 easily differentiated genetically. However, cuirent genetic tests cannot distinguish between wild wolves, 

 domestic dogs, and wolf-dog hybrids. Because domestic dogs evolved from wild wolves, they have 

 similar genetic characteristics. It is unlikely, however, that a released captive or wolf-dog hybrid would 

 survive long enough to reproduce with wild wolves (Bangs et al.l998). The concern about genetic 

 pollution in the northern Rockies population is overstated. 



There are behavioral differences between wild wolves, wolf-dog hybrids, and captive wolves. These 

 differences provide important clues to managers in situations where the origin of the animal is not known. 

 Released captives and hybrids will typically associate with humans and loiter near human settlements for 

 periods of time that are much longer than expected compared to a wild wolf traveling through an area. 

 They may even be more likely to depredate domestic animals than wild wolves (Bangs et al. 1998). In 

 the tri-state area, wolf-dog hybrids have been found in the wild sporadically since at least 1986 (Bangs et 

 al. 1998). Two cases in 1997 were south of YNP. In each case the animal loitered on private property, 

 scavenged, and one killed domestic sheep. Both animals were euthanized. Two cases that were reported 

 in northwestern Montana in 2002 had similar case histories (Meier pers. comm.). 



Across the U.S., wolf-dog hybrids have been responsible for human attacks, maulings, dismemberments, 

 and deaths. Many incidents involved children. The animal's large size, lack of fear, and unpredictable 

 behavior make it especially problematic. As of 1997, the Food and Drug Administration had not 

 approved rabies or other vaccines for use with captive wolves or hybrids. Despite lack of approved 

 vaccines, many captive wolf or hybrid owners use the standard dog rabies vaccine. Nonetheless, there is 

 still concern for public safety. 



It is legal to possess captive wolves and wolf-dog hybrids in Montana. Citizens may keep them as 

 personal, private pets without a permit. Citizens wishing to publicly display captives or wolf-dog hybrids 



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