Livestock losses by wolves show sharp decline

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reported March 30 that the state’s verified wolf population declined by 73 last year, or 12 percent from 2013, while livestock depredations by wolves fell by about 46 percent.

According to FWP’s annual wolf conservation and management report, the minimum number of wolves counted last year was 554. The minimum number of wolf packs was 134, compared to 152 last year, while the number of breeding pairs increased to 33 from 28.

The minimum wolf count is the number of wolves verified by FWP wolf specialists. The actual number of wolves is estimated to be 27 percent to 37 percent higher than the minimum count.

FWP director Jeff Hagener said Montana’s wolf population continues to be very healthy and far above federal recovery goals.

“Among the best news is that confirmed wolf depredations on livestock again took a significant drop in 2014,” he said.

Confirmed livestock depredations by wolves last year included 35 cattle, six sheep and one horse, down 46 percent from 2013 loses of 50 cattle, 24 sheep, three horses and one goat. Cattle losses in 2014 were the lowest recorded in the past eight years. The decline in wolf depredations continues a general downward trend that began in 2009, the report states.

“For FWP, and we hope for others, it reinforces the fact that we not only have more tools for managing wolf populations, but that we’re applying them effectively,” Hagener said. “One of our top priorities is to minimize livestock losses, and we think we’re continuing to make a positive impact there.”

The continuing decrease in livestock depredations over the past four years may be a result of several factors, the report said, including targeted wolf depredation responses in cooperation with USDA Wildlife Services and the effects of wolf harvest by hunters and trappers. Hunters and trappers took 213 wolves last year, compared to 231 in 2013.

The total number of known wolf mortalities last year was 308, down from 335 in 2013, including 213 legal harvests, 57 control actions to reduce livestock depredations (down from 75 in 2013), 11 vehicle strikes, 10 illegal killings, six killed because they posed a threat to human safety or livestock, two accidentally killed while being captured, one euthanized due to poor health and one legal tribal harvest. In addition, one wolf died of natural causes and six of unknown causes.

“Montana’s wolf management program seeks to manage wolves just like we do other wildlife — in balance with their habitat, with other wildlife species and with the people who live here,” Hagener said.

FWP’s complete report is available online at http://fwp.mt.gov.