ORAFrElSAI'PENOlXI 



Western Governors' Association have both pubhcly endorsed the concepts of CARA. However, the timing of any 

 Congressional action on this legislation is also uncertain give other national priorities. 



The National Management Trust and CARA have the greatest potential to provide the necessary supplemental 

 funding. Both are stable, long-term sources of funding and engage the national interests that desire to see wild, free- 

 roaming wolves in the northern Rockies. While MPWP also recognizes the value of having free-roaming wolves in 

 the northern Rockies, we also seeking financial assistance to conserve and manage the species within a complex 

 biological, social, economic, and political environment. Finding the balance without adequate funding will be very 

 difficult. 



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

 fulfill the responsibilities of wildlife conservation and management, law enforcement, assurance of human safety, 

 public outreach, resolution of wolf-livestock conflicts, compensation, and program administration. The budget truly 

 reflects the comprehensive nature of designing and implementing a wolf conservation and management program and 

 its related elements such as compensation. 



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. We also anticipate that the actual costs of implementation will vary from year to year. Some 

 components of the program will come in under budget in some years, but in other years these same components may 

 be in over budget. 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. 



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 



MFWP would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of the many people who helped guide the 

 development of this plan. Omission from this list reflects forgetfulness, not a lack of gratitude. Former MFWP 

 Director Pat Graham, former Governor Marc Racicot, and current Governor Judy Martz for their foresight in 

 appointing the Montana Wolf Management Advisory Council and support during plan development. The Montana 

 Wolf Management Advisory Council for their to willingness to serve, deliberate the difficult and challenging issues 

 associated with wolf management, and for sharing their time, insights, and perspectives: Chase Hibbard (Chair), 

 Darlyne Dascher, Bruce Malcolm, Bruce Tutvedt, Nelson Wert, Hank Fischer, Charles Buehler, Robin Hompesch, 

 James Cross, Terry Beaver, Ira Newbreast, and Jay Kirkpatrick. The Interagency Technical Committee for their 

 willingness to assist the Council, to share their insights and expertise so freely, and for reviewing earlier drafts: Ed 

 Bangs, Joe Fontaine, Larry Handegard, Jim Claar, Douglas Smith, and various MFWP biologists. Sharon Garden, 

 for taking such thorough minutes of the Council meetings, Marc Scow for facilitating the Council meetings, and Fay 

 Moore for ongoing administrative assistance. We also thank the reviewers of earlier drafts who are not 

 acknowledged elsewhere: Diane Boyd and Tom Meier. Personnel from the Montana State Library, Helena, deserve 

 recognition for their prompt attention to mail order requests for interlibrary loan materials and copies of scientific 

 literature. Personnel from the USDA Montana Agricultural Statistics Office graciously and expeditiously provided 

 the data on livestock losses reported in the Appendices. The USFWS Wolf Recovery Program and their cooperating 

 partners for sharing their knowledge and for access to their pubhshed and unpublished data. 



MFWP PREPARERS and CONTRIBUTORS 



Carolyn Sime was the primary technical writer of this document, with oversight by Glenn Erickson. Important 

 contributions and valuable guidance were also provided by Jeff Hagener, Chris Smith, Don Childress, Heidi 

 Youmans, Bob Lane and the Legal Unit, Tim Thier, Kevin Coates, Jim Kropp, Mark Earnhardt, Tim Feldner, 

 Arnold Dood, Tom Lemke, Tom Palmer, John Firebaugh, Bob Henderson, Neil Anderson, Brian Giddings, Erik 

 Wenum, Kevin Frey, Steve Carson, and the many other MFWP personnel who provided comments and input 

 throughout this planning process. Likewise, omission from this list reflects forgetfulness, not a lack of gratitude. 



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