Wolves Returned to Federal Endangered Species List in Montana
With the August 5, 2010 federal court decision that reinstated Endangered Species Act protection for wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains, federal law now guides Montana's management of the state’s wolf population.
As a result of the decision, the line that once divided Montana's wolf population as a "nonessential experimental" population in the southern half of the state, and an "endangered" population to the north, has also been reinstated by the court. Different federal regulations apply in the two areas.
- Montana Efforts Since Wolf Relisting and Fall Wolf Program Update (
120 KB) - FWP Appeals Wolf Ruling ( 52 KB)
- Wolf Relisting Fact Sheet ( 80 KB)
- Wolf Relisted FAQ ( 222 KB)
- Map of Endangered/Experimental Areas ( 177 KB)
- Federal Regulations for Endangered / Experimental Wolves ( 141 KB)
- 2009 Annual Report Quick Facts ( 1 MB)
About Wolves in Montana
Here is some general information about wolves in Montana.
Population Status
- Wolf Population & Distribution
- 2009 Montana Wolf Hunting Season Summary ( 531 KB)
- Wolf Conservation FAQs
- Recognizing a Gray Wolf
Field Guide
Report a Wolf Observation
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks requests that the public report any sightings or signs of wolves. The information helps to verify the activity, distribution, and individual pack sizes of Montana's wolf population. [Learn more]
Reports
Montana's Wolf Weekly Reports
The Montana Wolf Weekly Report summarizes information about wolves and their management in Montana on a weekly basis. Highlighted activities are monitoring, wolf-livestock interactions, outreach and education, research, law enforcement, and other miscellaneous program information. Information is contributed by the managing agencies and Montana Tribes.
Annual Reports
The annual reports present information on the status, distribution, and management of wolves in the State of Montana. Reports are a cooperative effort by FWP, USDA Wildlife Services, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Blackfeet Nation, and The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005
Monitoring Reports
Flight monitoring reports present information on the whereabouts of collared wolves on the day of the flight. Every 4-6 weeks, FWP staff fly to observe wolf packs and obtain counts throughout the year. Flight reports are grouped for packs according to geographic area. Look for the area of interest.
Wolf Team
FWP's wolf team works throughout the state monitoring the wolf population, investigating wolf reports, working with landowners, and doing public outreach. [Learn more]
News
Read the latest news about Montana's wolves. [Learn more]
Montana Wolf Conservation & Management Plan
Record of Decision, Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Executive Summary, public meeting comments, Montana Wolf Management Advisory Council, and questions and answers. [Learn more]
