CHAPTI'.k 3: AI.TERNATIVRS 



Livestock/Compensation and Prey sections. FWP, WS, and others would work proactively with 

 individual livestock producers and other private landowners to address and minimize risk of economic 

 losses associated with wolf conflicts. The council also acknowledged that some economic sectors benefit 

 from the increased tourism and visitation associated with wolf-viewing and tourists' perception of 

 Montana as a wild and .scenic place to visit. The council also affirmed the USFWS assessment that 

 restrictions on federal land management activities (e.g. logging or grazing) were not necessary for long 

 term wolf management. No restrictions are suggested by this alternative. 



Information / Public Outreach. This alternative acknowledges the importance, value, and need for an 

 ongoing educational public outreach program that parallels wolf management activities. The objective is 

 to provide scientifically based, factual information. A collaborative approach will also be necessary, but 

 FWP will take the lead. 



FWP already started its public outreach efforts with the 2002 Montana Hunting Regulations and the 2002- 

 2003 Trapping Regulations. Tips and information were included to help hunters and trappers correctly 

 identify a wolf from a coyote. FWP will take a leadership role in formulating and disseminating 

 educational materials. FWP is aware of existing wolf-related educational materials and non-agency 

 initiatives that could be incorporated in this important program component. These will be evaluated for 

 future implementation. 



Human Safety. FWP intends to reduce the potential for wolf-human conflicts and minimize the risks of 

 human injury due to any large-sized canid. While the risk of an aggressive encounter with a wild wolf is 

 low, FWP believes that the risk goes up in the absence of proper management. FWP will utilize extensive 

 outreach to inform the public, aggressively discourage habituation of wild wolves, and respond to 

 conflicts where and when they occur. See Table 26. 



If a wolf (or similar large canid) loiters near ranch buildings or loiral residences, FWP will evaluate the 

 potential risk to human safety, taking into account the setting, behavior of the animal, and the sequence of 

 events. Across the spectrum of wolf distribution and numbers, FWP will take an incremental approach. 

 Potential actions include: increasing contacts within the local community and the media, clo.sely 

 monitoring the situation, radio collaring the animal to track its movements, aversive or disruptive 

 conditioning, harassment, relocation, or lethal removal. A wolf could move through these areas, but 

 length of stay and behavior will be important criteria for determining the appropriate management 

 response. FWP will require some degree of flexibility to be most responsive to public safety concerns. 

 Although the management responsibility related to wildlife and human safety rests with FWP, local law 

 enforcement or other state or federal agency personnel may respond to a wolf-human incident if FWP 

 personnel are not available in a timely manner. In the unlikely need to defend human life during a wolf 

 encounter, citizens may u.se any means, including lethal force, to address an imminent threat. Citizens 

 must notify FWP afterward. This general approach, consistent with FWP guidelines for mountain lions 

 and black bears, would be adopted as nuisance wolf guidelines. 



FWP will provide educational materials to the general public with information about appropriate 

 responses during wolf encounters (do's and don'ts) and how to minimize the potential for problems near 

 homes and rural schools. This material will also include information about wolf behavior, body posture. 

 tail position, vocalizations, etc. to help the public evaluate the situation, correctly interpret wolf behavior, 

 and communicate the details accurately to agency personnel. An educational effort will also help the 

 public understand the differences between wolves, mountain lions, and bears in terms of animal 

 behaviors, potential risk of injury, appropriate human responses when threatened, and how to live and 

 recreate safely in the presence of these large carnivores. 



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