Management Challenges

FWP has demonstrated successful management of wolves since delisting. FWP’s science-based approach, rooted in the Montana Wolf Management Plan, balances wolf conservation with the needs of ranchers, hunters, and other stakeholders. Through regulated hunting and trapping, non-lethal conflict mitigation, population monitoring, and public engagement, FWP has ensured wolves remain a recovered species while managing their impacts on Montana’s landscapes and communities.

In 2024, FWP reported the following confirmed livestock depredations attributed to wolves: 35 cattle, 16 sheep, 3 foals, and 8 livestock guard dogs. Probable kills included 17 cattle and 1 livestock guard dog. A compensation program exists for ranchers who lose livestock to wolves. In 2024, the program disbursed funds to cover verified losses, helping to offset economic impacts and foster coexistence.

Wolves are apex predators that influence prey populations (e.g., deer, elk), which can affect ecosystems and hunting opportunities. Ungulate populations are influenced by a range of factors including predation by wolves and other carnivores, legal harvest, habitat, climate, and disease. In some regions, high wolf densities have been linked to declines in elk populations, impacting hunters and local economies reliant on hunting tourism.

Wolf management in Montana is a polarizing issue, with public opinions ranging from strong support for wolf conservation to opposition due to conflicts (real or perceived) with human activities. FWP must navigate these diverse perspectives—pro-wolf advocacy, anti-wolf sentiments, and everything in between—while maintaining a science-based approach to wolf management. Addressing public opinions is essential to sustain trapping as a management tool and ensure broad acceptance of FWP’s strategies.