CIIAI»TI:K 3: ALTKRNATI VKS 



How Does this Alternative Address the Major Issues? 



Wolf Management, Numbers and Distribution. FWP recognizes the gray wolf as a native species and 

 will integrate wolves as a valuable part of Montana's wildlife heritage. Wolves will be integrated and 

 sustained in suitable habitats within complex management settings. The wolf program will be based on 

 principles of adaptive management (Table 22). Management strategies and conOict resolution tools will 

 be more conservative as the number of breeding pairs decreases, approaching the legal minimum. In 

 contrast, management strategies become more liberal as the number of breeding pairs increases. 

 Ultimately, the status of the wolf population itself identifies the appropriate management strategies. A 

 minimum of 15 breeding pairs, according to the federal recovery definition (an adult male and an adult 

 female with at least two pups on December 31) will be used as a signal to transition to more liberal or 

 conservative management tools, whichever the case may be. This adaptive management trigger is not 

 intended to be a minimum or maximum number of wolves "allowed" in Montana. FWP does not 

 administratively declare an upper limit or maximum number of individuals of any wildlife species in the 

 state in the sense of a "cap." Instead, FWP identifies population objectives that are based on landowner 

 tolerance, habitat conditions, social factors, and biological considerations. Wildlife populations are then 

 managed according to the objectives and cuirent population status, using an array management tools. An 

 adaptive approach will help FWP implement its wolf program over the range of social acceptance values. 

 Sensitivity towards the challenges of wolf presence and prompt resolution of conflict where and when it 

 develops is an important condition of not administratively capping wolf numbers or defining distribution. 



Table 22. The spectrum of management activities to manage and conserve wolves in Montana. The 

 adaptive management model calls for selection of different management strategies as the 

 number of breeding pairs (according to the federal recovery definition) changes from 10-15 to 

 greater than 15. The model also calls for different strategies, depending on landownership 

 patterns (Public Lands and Mixed Land Ownerships), social factors, land use patterns, 

 biological constraints, and the physical attributes of the environment. Some management 

 strategies may apply across all numbers of breeding pairs or management settings, as indicated 

 by the arrows. 



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