BRAITEIS APPENDIX 1 



is attacking, killing, or threatening to kill livestock. This is consistent with Montana statutes that permit private 

 citizens to defend life or property from imminent danger caused by wildlife. 



Montana recognizes that wolf population recovery and persistence will result in the loss of personal property or 

 income due to wolf activity and depredation. Compensation is critical to maintaining tolerance for wolves by 

 livestock producers who are adversely affected by financial losses due to wolves. Montana would like to maintain 

 and enhance the benefits of the compensation program. But compensation payments cannot be made from MFWP 

 funds or matching federal funds intended for wildlife or habitat programs. The State of Montana intends to find or 

 create an entity to administer a compensation program if Defenders of Wildlife rescinds eligibility of Montana 

 ranchers upon delisting. The entity or non-governmental organization would be independent of MFWP and MDOL 

 to retain impartiality and the terms and negotiations take place directly with the producer. Agency decision-making 

 on the disposition of the problem animal is independent of the outcomes of the compensation negotiations. 

 Producers would be compensated for confirmed and probable livestock losses at fair market value at the time of 

 death and at fall value for young of the year. Eligible livestock include cattle, calves, hogs, pigs, horses, mules, 

 sheep, lambs, goats, and guarding animals. Despite the present uncertainty of how a compensation program would 

 be designed and administered, securing adequate funding for compensation is of equal priority as securing funding 

 to implement the other state and federal agency management activities described in this plan. 



Generally, wolves fear people and do not pose a significant threat to human safety. However, in extremely rare 

 cases, individual wolves may gradually lose their fear of people and begin associating or interacting with people 

 and/or loitering near buildings, livestock, or domestic dogs. While this behavior is extremely unusual for a wild 

 wolf, it is more typical of a released captive wolf or wolf-dog hybrid. MFWP intends to reduce the potential for 

 wolf-human conflicts and minimize the risks of human injury due to any large-sized canid. MFWP will utilize 

 extensive outreach to inform the public, discourage habituation, and then respond to conflicts where and when they 

 develop. 



If a wolf (or similar large canid) loiters near ranch buildings or rural residences, MFWP 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, MFWP will take an incremental approach. Potential actions include: 

 increasing contacts within the local community, closely monitoring the situation, marking the animal with a radio 

 collar 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. MFWP 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 MFWP, 

 local law enforcement or other state of federal agency personnel may respond to a wolf-human incident if MFWP 

 personnel are not available in a timely manner. In the unlikely need for defense of human life during a wolf 

 encounter, citizens may use any means, including lethal force, to address an imminent threat. 



MFWP will provide information to the general public 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 outdoors in the presence of these large carnivores. 



A successful conservation and management program for wolves ultimately depends on people and their attitudes. 

 The history of wolves in Montana has as much to do with the relationship between wolves and people as it does with 

 the ecology of the species. The same will be true of the wolfs future. MFWP recognizes the importance, value, and 

 need for a sustained educational public outreach program to parallel wolf management activities. The objective is to 

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

 take the lead. 



During the first five years after delisting, MFWP will document that the wolf population in Montana is secure. 

 MFWP will informally consult with the USFWS and cooperating partners on a reguhu basis, including a periodic 

 formal review by the USP^S. USFWS will point out any deficiencies or areas of concern and recommend 



IV 



