DRArr KIS ,\PHKNDIX I 



The two elements, management and compensation, are funded, administered, and implemented separately and 

 independently of one another - but parallel one another, united in the goal of maintaining a viable wolf population 

 and addressing wolf-livestock conflicts. The common goal links the two elements together and will foster 

 collaboration among all parties. However, the decision-making process for each clement could be independent from 

 the other. For example, decisions about compensation could be made independently from how the cooperating 

 agencies address problem wolves. Both elements are ultimately required, but the details and specifics about the 

 nature of the relationship between agency management actions and coinpensation and how a compensation program 

 could be designed and administered will be discussed later in this chapter. 



It is Montana's intent to minimize the potential for wolf-livestock conflicts by proactivcly working with individual 

 producers who could be disproportionately affected by wolf depredation. Upon delisting, MFWP will share 

 responsibility with MDOL in managing wolf-livestock conflicts because Montana statutes assign responsibility to 

 both agencies to manage wildlife causing damage to livestock. Even though Montana statutes will designate the 

 gray wolf "in need of management" as a resident, native species overseen by MFWP, the wolfs ability to depredate 

 on livestock and its unique historical relationship to agriculture also warrant the shared responsibility. MDOL and 

 MFWP will work together, along with WS, to address and resolve wolf-livestock conflicts through a Memorandum 

 of Understanding (MOU). Oversight is by the MFWP Commission and the Montana Board of Livestock. As 

 conflicts arise under the state management program, resolution will be no less important or forthcoming. The 

 framework for addressing wolf-livestock conflicts by the various agencies, livestock producers, and other citizens is 

 described below. 



Livestock Depredation 



WS is a cooperating partner in the federal wolf recovery program with USFWS and has worked alongside the 

 USFWS in investigating, documenting, and resolving wolf-livestock conflicts. WS agents gained significant 

 experience with wolves in Montana and developed positive working relationships within the agricultural 

 community. WS agents have investigated depredation complaints, captured wolves for research and monitoring 

 purposes, provided technical assistance to producers, developed and tested non-lethal inethods of depredation 

 control, and removed problem wolves. 



To date, almost all depredation incidents investigated by WS within Montana occurred on private land, whereas over 

 80% of depredations in Idaho and about 50% of depredations in Wyoming were on public grazing allotments (Meier 

 in press). As wolf numbers and distribution increase in Montana, depredations may also occur on public grazing 

 allotments or in remote backcountry settings. Between 300,000 and 400,000 sheep and cattle graze summer pasture 

 on public lands in Montana (Bangs and Shivik 2001 ). It is not necessarily a foregone conclusion that wolves will 

 automatically depredate on livestock, but wolf packs that regularly encounter livestock will depredate sporadically 

 (Bangs and Shivik 2001 ). For example, the Ninemile pack in northwestern Montana regularly encounters livestock, 

 but only depredated in three out of 1 1 years. But other packs attacked livestock not long after establishing a 

 territory. Overall, livestock losses appear related to the availability of wild prey, increasing pack size, and the 

 learned behavior of individual wolves. Research in a remote, mountainous allotment in central Idaho suggested that 

 wolves tested and hunted cattle like wild prey, attacking the most vulnerable animals. Wolves killed calves that 

 were the lowest weight, less guarded by people, nearest to an active wolf den, and in the heaviest forest cover 

 (Oakleaf /n Bangs and Shivik 2001). 



in the northern Rockies, wolf depredation problems are more significant for sheep than cattle, which was also true 

 historically. From 1987 to 20(K), wolves accounted for the known loss of 148 cattle, 356 sheep, and 37 dogs in the 

 states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming combined (USFWS ct al. 2001 ). Between 1995 (the first year wolves were 

 released into YNP and central ID) and 2000, an average of 2 1 cattle, 57 sheep, and 6 dogs were confirmed as wolf 

 depredation per year within the three states combined (USFWS et al. 2001 ). Additional livestock losses may have 

 been due to wolves, but these were not conflnned. Lack of evidence or the presence of conflicting or inconclusive 

 evidence is problematic. Total carcass consumption by wolves is more likely than for other predators. Once 

 abandoned, wolf kills are readily scavenged by other species. Appendix 5 summarizes confirmed wolf depredation 

 data for the three recovery areas from 1987-2000. No estimate is available for unverified livestock los.ses that may 

 have been due to wolves. 



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