BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A Montana judge has temporarily restricted wolf hunting and trapping near Yellowstone and Glacier national parks and imposed tighter statewide limits on killing the predators, over concerns that looser hunting rules adopted last year in the Republican-controlled state could harm their population.
The order is due to expire Nov. 29, but Abbott set a hearing on the matter for Nov. 28 in Lewis and Clark County.
“We will comply with the judge’s order and look forward to the opportunity to defend good science and management strategies,” he said. A total of 273 wolves were reported killed in Montana last winter, out of population of about 1,100 wolves. This year, the state authorized the killing of up to 456, including six north of Yellowstone park. Abbott’s order reduces that to two wolves outside the park.The judge said he wanted to prevent an “acceleration” of wolf kills as trapping season opens. But he rejected a request by the conservation groups to halt all wolf hunting and trapping.
Wilderness areas in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming have become strongholds for wolf populations and wolves were taken off the federal endangered species list in the region in 2011. That’s helped fuel the species’ expansion in recent years into parts of Oregon, Washington state and California.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Yellowstone Season 5 Premiere Ratings Raise Bar For FranchiseAfter keeping audiences waiting for nearly a year, YellowstoneTV's season 5 premiere ratings has set a new bar for the franchise, bringing in over 12 million viewers.
Read more »
America’s favorite show, Yellowstone can’t, won’t be stoppedLike a wrecking ball wearing a Stetson, Yellowstone smashed through American popular culture with a massive premiere
Read more »
'Yellowstone' star bolsters efforts to bring back Mescal Movie SetYellowstone star Forrie J. Smith is helping to lead efforts to bring back Mescal Movie Set as a filmmaking location. Smith got his start at Mescal, first as a stuntman, then as an actor.
Read more »
Crews transforms Venus into backdrop for 'Yellowstone' seriesCrews have been hard at work transforming a North Texas town into the perfect backdrop for scenes of the hit drama 'Yellowstone.'
Read more »
'Yellowstone' prequel '1923,' starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, releases first teaser trailerAfter Sunday's season five premiere of 'Yellowstone,' Paramount has shared a teaser trailer of the upcoming prequel '1923' starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.
Read more »