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Pet owners, wildlife advocates oppose MT bill legalizing strangulating wolf snares
MTN News
and last updated 2021-02-03 13:40:20-05
HELENA â A few weeks ago, Missoula residents Fred and Linda Lerch took their dogs for a hike up Black Cat Canyon near Frenchtown. Suddenly, the pleasant day took a bad turn as they ran into another couple still unnerved by a situation that occurred just minutes before.
The other coupleâs dog had been caught in a trapperâs snare. They had tried frantically to get the dog loose while trying to dial 9-1-1 in an area where reception was spotty. They finally succeeded in freeing the dog, which fortunately survived, so they were taking him back home.
Wolf trappers in Montana would be allowed to use snares under a bill that drew significant debate Tuesday.
The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee held a lengthy hearing on House Bill 224 from Rep. Paul Fielder, R-Thompson Falls. The bill would mandate that licensed trappers in Montana be allowed to use snares for wolves. Currently, trappers are only allowed to use foothold traps to capture wolves, although snares may be legally used for other species.
âPresently Montana allows snares as a wildlife management tool for the harvest and taking of furbearers, predators and nongame wildlife, but not wolves,â Fielder told the committee. â⦠Allowing snaring of wolves by licensed trappers will give wildlife managers another tool to reduce wolf numbers, especially in areas where ungulate numbers are stressed by wolves.
Governor Greg Gianforte announced his nomination of Henry “Hank” Worsech to lead the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) on Wednesday.
HELENA, Mont. â Governor Greg Gianforte announced Wednesday his nomination of Henry âHankâ Worsech to lead the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP).
âProtecting our public lands and conserving wildlife is a shared priority of landowners, hunters, anglers and all Montanans who cherish our outdoor heritage. Itâs part of what defines our Montana way of life,â Gov. Gianforte said. âWith nearly two decades of experience with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Hank understands the importance of this tradition and is committed to strengthening it.â
A public servant for nearly three decades, Worsech most recently served as a license bureau chief for the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks.