Senators Seek Continued Wolf Management in Montana, Tri-State Talks

Press Release

Tester, Baucus push Interior Chief to fund Wolf Kill Bill, convene discussions

Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus today requested discussions among Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming to develop a plan for states to effectively manage gray wolves following a judge's recent decision that returned wolves to the endangered species list.

The Senators also pushed U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to fully fund Montana's Wolf Kill Bill, formally known as the Wolf Livestock Loss Mitigation Program, after Judge Donald Molloy's August 5 decision that resulted in relisting the gray wolf as an endangered species.

"In the pursuit of finding a lasting solution, we strongly support state management and believe that it can be used to achieve a healthy population of gray wolves while balancing the needs of the communities in this region," the Senators wrote to Salazar. "To this end, we ask you to convene discussions between all stakeholders in the tri-state region in Montana this fall. Working through a collaborative process can bring resolution to this problem if all the relevant parties are engaged."

Tester and Baucus specifically touted the State of Montana's work in creating a workable management plan for wolves in Montana. The State of Idaho created its own management plan. The State of Wyoming, however, did not.

"No matter the solution, we must all be proactive; and that includes the State of Wyoming," the Senators added. "Hoping that this issue will resolve itself is unwise for our local ranchers and for the long-term survival of the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf."

In the coming weeks, Baucus plans to introduce legislation to put wolves under Montana's management.

The Wolf Kill Bill, written by Tester, provides a compensation fund for Montana ranchers who lose livestock to wolf predation. Baucus and Tester requested that Salazar fully fund the successful program, as well as all wolf management efforts, now and in future Administration budgets.

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