A new Montana wolf management plan would replace a 22-year-old version and include more data, research and analysis, according to state Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials. The state agency in February released a final environmental impact statement (EIS) about the controversial situation. The EIS analyzed potential environmental impacts from the statewide management of gray wolves.
Issuing the final EIS is a key step in a process that started in 2023, when FWP originally released the draft EIS. It analyzed two alternatives. One was “no action,” representing the same thing that has been done for the past 22 years. The second would be the adoption of an updated conservation and management plan, which FWP has proposed being approved.
The draft EIS was made available for public review and comment from Oct. 20, 2023, through Dec. 19, 2023, and again from Feb. 8, 2024, through March 9, 2024. The additional 30-day comment window was to offer an opportunity for additional input from Tribes and affected counties.
“This final EIS means the update to the 2003 Wolf Plan is nearly complete,” said FWP Director Christy Clark. “We appreciate the comments and feedback we’ve received on our draft documents from people across the state and country. That input is critical in ensuring we have a plan that is effective in managing wolves moving forward.”
Alternative 1, the “no action” alternative, would represent the status quo.
Under Alternative 2, FWP’s proposed alternative, the agency would adopt and implement the 2025 Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. If approved, the statewide plan would replace the 2003 Montana Wolf Conservation and Management Planning Document.
The 2003 Wolf Plan does not include details on how wolves are currently monitored and managed. It also does not address recent research regarding monitoring methods and management strategies, such as surveys on wolf tolerance and nonlethal preventative strategies.
This final EIS addresses issues and concerns raised during the public comment periods. All new information and analysis supplied during the comment periods were used to prepare the final EIS and FWP’s response to comments received on the draft EIS.
