Wyoming Reaches Deal on Wolf Management

[Big Horn Posse]

Reported by Kevin Trager

Wyoming takes one step closer to removing wolves from federal protection.

Governor Mead agreed to terms with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the state’s management of wolves.

Experts say there are close to 350 wolves that live throughout the state, and the new policy requires that the state maintain at least one hundred wolves and ten breeding pairs in Wyoming.

This excludes Yellowstone National Park where an addition fifty wolves and five breeding pairs will be required.

The new agreement also extends the Trophy Game Management Area an extra fifty miles south of the current boundaries. However, these extended boundaries would only be in effect from October to February, to give the wolves a larger area for making their winter homes.

The new agreement still must be voted on by the state legislature, a process which could take up to one year to complete. Until then, current laws concerning wolf hunting are still in place

http://www.kcwy13.com/news.php?id=666