Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is reopening the public comment period for the 2024 Grizzly Bear and Gray Wolf management plans.
The director of the group says they want to make sure everyone who has a stake in how these two species are managed, has the chance to comment on the draft plans before they are final. Both plans want to help increase populations of the Grizzly Bear and Gray Wolf, while keeping managing efforts at the state level. The new deadline is March 9th.
Meanwhile, a first of its kind program in California, intended to help livestock producers deal with loss from wolf populations, is being reevaluated. The state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife revealed 38 cattle depredations by wolves were confirmed in 2023.
California’s Wolf Livestock Compensation Pilot Program provides support to producers for direct loss of livestock due to confirmed wold attacks. At the beginning of the year, the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife received 102 applications that would exhaust the current $3 million fund.
California’s Cattlemen’s Association is urging state government to provide more money.
