CHAPTER M Ai/rERN,\rrvi:s 



Under this alternative, improved management and enhanced flexibility for the agency and the landowner 

 would be substituted for a compensation program. Compensation for livestock injury or loss due to 

 wolves was instituted by a private organization since the federal govemmenl and the Stale of Montana do 

 not financially reimburse individuals for losses because of damage caused by wildlife. The Defenders of 

 Wildlife Wolf Compensation Trust Fund has paid a total of $81,140 for wolf-related claims in Montana 

 since 1987 (data obtained 9-3-2002 from www.defenders.org/wolfcomp.html ). But under this alternative, 

 the .State of Montana would not actively promote, create, or facilitate an independent compensation 

 provider to fund and administer a compensation program should the existing private program be 

 discontinued. At the present time, no compensation programs are facilitated, created, or administered by 

 FWP for large carnivores or other wildlife species in Montana. Historically, management response and 

 technical assistance, whether carried out by agency personnel or by landowners, have been the traditional 

 and legal basis for addressing wildlife-livestock conflicts in Montana. 



Many public scoping comments identified concerns about a compensation program, and these are briefly 

 summarized as follows. Compensation relies on verification, and this is not easily accomplished in 

 Montana's multi-predator, mountainous environment. It also requires assessment of value, which can 

 vary considerably-not every animal has the same value. For example, purebred lines of sheep and cattle 

 are valued more highly than the simple market price of a cow or sheep at auction. Specific individuals in 

 those genetic lines may be of even greater value. Compensation programs also require perpetual fund- 

 raising, with uncertain results and future availability. Complications further arise from the logistics of 

 how losses are documented and which types of livestock are covered. Even after compensation is paid, 

 some type of field response may still be necessary because of the potential for subsequent incidents. 

 Compensation programs typically do not take into account the changes that livestock producers make in 

 management operations or the economic costs associated with making those changes. Fundamentally, 

 compensation addresses a problem only after it has occurred by reimbursing livestock owners for the 

 financial losses incurred when livestock are injured or killed. 



Instead of a compensation program, this alternative would provide landowners with management 

 flexibility within the guidelines of Montana law and the administrative rules that will be adopted by the 

 FWP Commission. Montana law makes it illegal to indiscriminately kill a wolf unless the wolf is 

 "attacking, killing, or threatening to kill a person or livestock." The prohibition against indiscriminant 

 killing is similar to other legally classified wildlife such as big game (e.g. deer, black bear, mountain lion) 

 or furbearers (e.g. martin, otter, or beaver). Montana law would require individuals to report incidents of 

 wolf take to FWP within 72 hours. FWP would investigate to determine all of the facts or circumstances. 

 The actual management tools proposed for landowner use in this alternative were described under 

 Alternative 2 (Updated Council). Additional management tools (e.g. use of rubber bullets to haze wolves 

 that frequent livestock concentration areas) and innovative approaches will arise on a case-by-case basis 

 since each situation is unique. 



Wolf Habitat, Connectivity, and Land Management. Same as Alternative 2 (Updated Council). 



Economics / Livelihoods. Same as Alternative 2 (Updated Council). 



Information I Public Outreach. Same as Alternative 2 (Updated Council). See Table 22. 



Human Safety. Same as Alternative 2 (Updated Council). See Table 26. 



Monitoring. Same as Alternative 2 (Updated Council). See Table 22. However, under this alternative, 

 the overall wolf monitoring intensity may decrease because a higher number of social groups will be 

 present in Montana so a high degree of precision is less warranted. Some groups could be still monitored 

 closely (e.g. groups which use private lands) while others may be monitored less intensively. 



89 



