New West published the entire letter that Montana Gov. Schweitzer sent to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar infoming that Ranchers in his State would be given permission to kill wolves seen attacking livestock as well as allowing State Fish and Wildlife to remove entire packs of wolves in the Bitteroot Valley that were determined to be limiting Elk herds...............We are at the civil disobedience stage of the almost hysterical pro/anti wolf debate in the USA---for my money, we human animals are purposely exhibiting the same anti predator behavior as historical generations............the shame of it being that the folks in the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and even early 20th Centuries did not posess the knowledge that we do today about the benefits to the land that top trophic carnivores provide...............And even with this knowledge, we choose to kill them anyway..............What does that say about us as a species?????

Montana Governor Notifies Feds of New Policy on Wolves


Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer's letter to Ken Salazar authorizes a new approach to controlling -- and culling -- wolves in the state.


By New West

In the latest development in the battle between state and federal leaders on how to manage federally protected wolves in the Northern Rockies, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announcing a new wolf management plan for the state.



The plan gives ranchers more leeway in protecting their livestock while authorizing wildlife officials to cull wolves that prey on elk in the Bitterroot Valley.



Schweitzer noted he is "profoundly frustrated" by the situation that led him to issue the new directives.



The full letter:



February 16, 2011



The Honorable Ken Salazar

Secretary

U.S. Department of the Interior

1849 C Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20240



Dear Secretary Salazar:



I write to you today regarding wolf management in Montana.



While almost everyone acknowledges that the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf population is fully recovered, as the Governor of Montana I am profoundly frustrated by the lack of any actual results that recognize Montana's rights and responsibilities to manage its wildlife. Montana has for years done everything that has been asked: adopting a model wolf management plan; enacting enabling legislation; and adopting the necessary implementing rules. Our exemplary efforts have been ignored. I cannot continue to ignore the crying need for workable wolf management while Montana waits, and waits, and waits. Therefore, I am now going to take additional necessary steps to protect the interests of Montana's livestock producers and hunters to the extent that I can within my authorities as governor.



First, for Montana's northwest endangered wolves (north of Interstate 90), any livestock producers who kill or harass a wolf attacking their livestock will not be prosecuted by Montana game wardens. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) wardens will be directed to exercise their prosecutorial discretion by not investigating or citing anyone protecting their livestock.



Further, I am directing FWP to respond to any livestock depredation by removing whole packs that kill livestock, wherever this may occur.



Still further, to protect the elk herds in Montana's Bitterroot Valley that have been most adversely affected by wolf predation, I am directing FWP, to the extent allowed by the Endangered Species Act, to cull these wolves by whole-pack removal to enable elk herds to recover.



At this point, I can do nothing less and still maintain my commitment as Governor to uphold the rights of our citizens to protect their property and to continue to enjoy Montana's cherished wildlife heritage and traditions.



Sincerely,





Brian Schweitzer

Governor