MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has donated $25,000 to the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to help the agency better determine the number of wolves in Montana.
The money will pay for GPS radio collars and related equipment needed to help the state determine the size of a wolf pack's territory in different parts of the state. The collars also collect information on wolf movement.
RMEF President David Allen says if the state has more accurate information on the wolf population it can "manage the population downward."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated there were 625 wolves in 147 packs in Montana in 2012. FWP spokesman Ron Aasheim says the agency's new population model predicted more than 800 wolves in 165 packs.
