Wolves are a confirmed presence in Montana, representing one of the most significant wildlife conservation and management stories in the United States. The gray wolf population is the result of decades of recovery and intense public debate. Understanding their status requires looking at current numbers, the history of their return, and the complex legal frameworks governing their existence. Montana’s management approach balances biological recovery with the practical challenges of coexisting with a large carnivore.
Current Population Status and Geographic Range
The estimated statewide wolf population in Montana for 2024 was approximately 1,091 animals, a figure considered relatively stable. This number is well above the minimum federal recovery criteria established for the Northern Rocky Mountains. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) uses Integrated Patch Occupancy Modeling (iPOM) to arrive at this estimate. This modeling approach utilizes hunter-reported wolf sightings, known pack locations, and environmental data to predict distribution and abundance across the state.
Wolf distribution is not uniform across Montana, with the vast majority concentrated in the western half of the state. The highest density of packs is found in Northwest Montana, including areas around Glacier National Park and the Flathead region. West-Central Montana and regions adjacent to Yellowstone National Park also support substantial wolf populations. Areas east of the Continental Divide have lower numbers of wolves.
The History of Wolf Recovery
Gray wolves were systematically eliminated from Montana and the rest of the western United States by the late 1930s due to government-sponsored eradication programs and bounties. For several decades, the species was functionally absent from the landscape. Recovery began in the early 1980s when wolves naturally started dispersing south from Canada into the remote wilderness areas of Northwest Montana.
The return of the wolf was significantly accelerated by the federal government’s reintroduction program in the mid-1990s. Between 1995 and 1996, wolves captured in Canada were released into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho, leading to a rapid expansion of the population. These reintroduced wolves and their offspring dispersed north and east, contributing to the growing numbers in Montana.
The population grew steadily under the protection of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. By 2002, the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population, which includes Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, met the biological recovery goal of 30 breeding pairs for three consecutive years. This milestone paved the way for the eventual transfer of wolf management authority from the federal government to the state.
Legal Status and Management
The gray wolf population in Montana was federally delisted in May 2011, concluding its protection under the ESA and transferring full management responsibility to the state FWP. Upon delisting, the wolf was reclassified under Montana state law as a “species in need of management.” This change allowed the state to manage wolves similar to other wildlife species, guided by state-approved conservation plans.
State management primarily involves monitoring, conflict resolution, and public harvest. The FWP Commission sets annual hunting and trapping seasons, establishes quotas, and defines the regulations. Recent legislative actions have aimed to reduce the wolf population to a sustainable level that also addresses concerns about impacts on elk populations and livestock.
These liberalized regulations include extended seasons, increased bag limits, and the authorization of methods like night-hunting on private lands and the use of snares in certain areas. For the 2024-2025 season, a statewide harvest quota of 500 wolves was set. The goal is to maintain a population size above the minimum recovery threshold while actively managing their distribution and density, particularly in areas with high livestock or elk concentrations.
Coexistence and Conflict Mitigation
The presence of a recovered wolf population inevitably leads to conflicts, primarily involving livestock depredation on ranches. While wolves primarily prey on wild ungulates like elk and deer, they occasionally target domestic animals such as cattle and sheep. Confirmed livestock losses are tracked, and compensation programs reimburse producers for verified wolf-related losses.
Non-lethal methods are employed to reduce the risk of conflict and promote coexistence. These preventative measures include specialized fencing like fladry, which consists of flags attached to a boundary line that deters wolves due to their novelty. Ranchers also utilize scare devices, such as motion-activated lights and sirens, to discourage wolves from approaching livestock.
Proactive ranching practices are a key component of mitigation. Techniques like management intensive grazing, which keeps livestock in tight, frequently moved groups, help reduce vulnerability. Many operations employ human presence, such as range riders, or utilize livestock guardian animals like dogs or donkeys to protect herds. In cases of repeated depredation, FWP or USDA Wildlife Services may authorize targeted lethal removal of problem wolves to stop further losses.