MT Residents: Montana’s Wolves Need Your Help NOW!

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission is considering regulations to align their already deplorable wolf hunting season with the even more egregious recent legislation calling for an all-out war on wolves. Increased bag limits, liberalized trapping seasons, and snaring on private lands are all on the table. Please speak up NOW before it’s too late!

Urge the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission to protect wolves TODAY!

Here’s how you can help:

1. Provide testimony at the June 24 Fish & Wildlife Commission virtual meeting.

a. Prepare your statement using the talking points below and keeping it to 2 minutes or less.

b. During discussion of the agenda item “2021 Wolf Season Proposed” (afternoon session), simply use the raise hand function in Zoom or press *9 if you’re participating by phone. More instructions here.

2. Send written comments to FWComm@MT.gov, using the talking points below (deadline 5pm MDT on July 26, 2021).

a. If you’re submitting comments after the Commission votes on June 24, further information on comment submission will be added to this page.​​​

3. Write a Letter to the Editor (LTE) of your local newspaper.

a. Encourage fellow MT residents to support a ban on wildlife killing contests.

b. Use the talking points below, and see tips on LTEs here.

4. Share this action alert and sharegraphic with other MT residents and encourage them to take action on behalf of Montana’s wildlife.

Talking points to craft your message (please personalize):

• Before making your comments, please state your name and Montana city of residence.
• Snaring should be prohibited everywhere. Snaring is not only incredibly cruel, but it also threatens endangered lynx, family dogs, and many non-target wildlife. The proposed stipulations on loop stops, snare locks, and breakaway devices are not adequate.
• Season date expansion should not occur. The agency’s own document states “As expanded dates represent more trapping season, they consequently represent increased potential for non-target capture of federally listed grizzly bears, lynx, and other wild and domestic species…. In addition, non-target captures of grizzly bears represent real concerns for human safety.” Enough said.
• Night hunting is simply dangerous and should be prohibited.
• Baiting wolves increases the chances of human-wildlife and interspecies conflict, disease transmission, and habituation.
• Wolves cause less than 1% of cattle deaths and any depredation can be properly managed without these regulations.
• Wolves alive and thriving bring value to Montana in many forms, including ecosystem services and tourism dollars.
• The majority of Montanans and Americans support wolf recovery at levels where wolves can fulfill their ecological functions. Almost no one supports wasting tax dollars to recover wolves, just to exterminate them again.

Thank you for acting TODAY to protect Montana’s wolves and their ecosystems!

For Wild Nature,