I)k.\n' KIS AHPKNOIX I 



After an investigation, violations of the statutes, rules, or regulations will be prosecuted in cooperation with the 

 county or district attorney for state or federal cases, respectively. In cooperation with the Courts of Limited 

 Jurisdiction, penalties and restitution will be established for unlawful takings and rule violations. While Montana's 

 penalties may not be as substantial as the penalties for violating ESA, they will be commensurate with other wildlife 

 s[}ecies to discourage criminal activity, particularly repeat offenses. 



MFWP field wardens, biologists, or wildlife conflict specialists may respond to and resolve wolf-human conflicts. 

 This is consistent with statutory responsibiUties conferred upon MFWP for resource protection and public safety. 



Generally. MFWP wardens will not investigate wolf-livestock conflicts, unless WS agents request field assistance. 

 But wardens may assist landowners in contacting WS in cases of suspected depredation. When WS closes an 

 investigation. MFWP wardens may help process field reports on suspected wolf depredation or transport carcasses 

 similar to the current procedures for mountain lion, black or grizzly bear investigations. Montana statutes assign 

 authority to MFWP and the MFWP Commission to issue special kill pcnnits to landowners that enable a person to 

 kill a wolf under specified conditions. Game wardens (or biologists) will have the primary responsibiUty for the 

 field aspects of administration, implementation, and closing these cases. 



Public education is a critical component of a successful law enforcement program. Significant public outreach is 

 required to inform the public about the rules and regulations pertaining to wolves during the transition from federal 

 to state management. The public will need to develop an awareness of the transition in management authority and 

 the new rules and regulations. MFWP has many outlets to convey information, all of which will be utilized. See 

 Appendix 8. 



Implementation 



Table 1 summarizes a spectrum of MFWP and WS strategies to manage and conserve wolves in Montana. Many 

 activities fall within existing duties and responsibilities already carried out by MFWP or WS, but some activities 

 clearly add to existing responsibilities and workloads. Some wildhfe biologists, for example, will have new wolf 

 monitoring responsibilities. Some segments of the public will expect the same intense level of monitoring and wolf 

 control currently carried out by the USFWS and WS. MFWP field wardens will now investigate potentially illegal 

 wolf mortalities. Other changes for wardens and/or biologists may include; working with landowners to address 

 their concerns, handhng/rcferring livestock damage calls, responding to wolf sightings and perceived threats to 

 public safety, addressing hunter concerns and complaints associated with wolves, and responding to reports of 

 injured or road-killed wolves. The MFWP Wildlife Laboratory will experience an increased workload associated 

 with processing wolf carcasses, fulfilling wolf health and disease surveillance responsibilities, and filhng 

 educational requests. Other state and federal agencies could also be affected similar. 



Additional resources will be required to implement these new responsibilities. Existing budget and personnel 

 resources cannot absorb this expansion. Additional funds will be necessary for field-level and administrative 

 personnel, technical training, public outreach efforts and materials, new equipment, and for daily operations to 

 monitor wildlife populations or deliver an adequate public response to concerns about public safety. All interests 

 share the responsibility of addressing the economic challenges of wolf conservation and management. 



A draft budget is presented as Appendix 3. The budget outlines the personnel and financial resources necessary to 

 fulfill the wolf monitoring responsibilities, disease surveillance functions, law enforcement, infonnation and 

 education initiatives, program administration, and WS activities carried out under the terms of the MOU. The 

 budget truly reflects the comprehensive nature of designing and implementing a wolf management program. While 

 this budget represents our best projection of the resources required, we cannot assess its accuracy until MFWP 

 actually assumes management authority and begins implementation . Some components of the wolf program may 

 not be captured fully by this draft budget. There may also be costs that could not be predicted at this time or were 

 unforeseen. This budget will be refined in the future as MFWP gains more experience with wolf management. 

 MFWP will pursue all possible funding sources including, but not limited to public/private foundations, federal or 

 state appropriations, and other private sources. Adequate funding will be necessary to fully implement the wolf 

 conservation and management provisions of this Chapter. 



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