CHAFIER 3: Al/rrUNAriVKS 



Other Wildlife. Benefits of wolf presence to other wildlife (like scavengers) are minimized due to 

 minimal wolf numbers and limited distribution. Conversely, other wildlife species, such as beaver, which 

 are prey for wolves, may benefit from the wolf low numbers. Under this alternative, the gray wolf is not 

 integrated into FWP's wildlife management program, but other species will continue to be managed in the 

 presence of a limited wolf population. 



Private Property. The alternative is more deferential to private property owners' decisions about wolf use 

 of their lands. Since wolves would not be treated like other publicly owned wildlife, landowners would 

 be granted greater latitude to resolve conflicts so long as the overall wolf population in Montana remained 

 above the minimum required. See Livestock issue above. 



Hybrids. Same as Alternative 2 (Updated Council.) See Table 22. 



Wildlife Management Areas. As noted above, wolf distribution under this alternative is administratively 

 determined and artificially maintained through management and control. Wolves would be discouraged 

 from using F^WP WMAs. FWP field personnel could haze and trap/relocate wolves discovered on 

 WMAs. Individual wolves will be allowed to cross FWP properties, but ideally, would not be allowed to 

 stay long enough to hunt deer or elk. 



Alternative 5. Contingency 



Under this alternative, FWP would seek to enter into a cooperative agreement with USFWS to implement 

 the Updated Council Alternative (2) while the gray wolf is still listed as an interim step to assuming full 

 management authority in the event that delisting is postponed. Delisting delays could be caused by the 

 lack of conservation plans and/or adequate regulatory mechanisms in the other two states or by litigation 

 on the actual USFWS delisting proposal. The public anticipated delays and expressed their concerns 

 about developments beyond Montana's control during the scoping process. In response, FWP developed 

 this unusual alternative. 



This alternative allows FWP to respond to citizens' needs and address the challenges faced by those most 

 directly affected by wolf presence, albeit more conservatively than FWP or the public may desire, until 

 such time as the wolf is delisted and under full authority of the state. It may not be legally possible to 

 implement some provisions, such as regulated public harvest, because of the listed status but many other 

 aspects would be. 



FWP believes inclusion of this alternative is important because gray wolves will continue to increase their 

 numbers and distribution in Montana while the administrative process for delisting runs its course. 

 Gathering public comment on it now as part of the EIS process allows FWP to hear from Montanans 

 about the future of wolf management under a different set of legal conditions should wolves not get 

 delisted in the near future. The significance or duration of any delay is speculative at this time. 

 Nonetheless, this alternative outlines a potential approach that would allow FWP to become more 

 involved in the day to day management of wolves in Montana than is presently the case. 



Even if FWP selected this alternative as an interim management program while the delisting process is 

 ongoing, FWP would continue working with USFWS and the .states of Idaho and Wyoming to resolve any 

 obstacles to complete delisting and the transfer of management authority from the federal government to 

 the respective state governments. Upon delisting, FWP would implement the remaining program 

 elements of Alternative 2 (Updated Council) that had previously been prohibited by federal regulations. 



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