Wolf trapping opens in some areas of occupied grizzly bear habitat

Wolf trappers are now free to begin their pursuit of the cagy canines in certain areas of Northwest Montana because grizzly bear activity has declined.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks made the announcement in a news release late Monday afternoon.

The areas of occupied grizzly bear habitat now open include areas in FWP Region 1, elk and deer hunting districts 100, 101, 103, 104 120, 121, 122, 123 and 124.

In Region 2, occupied grizzly bear habitat south of Interstate 90, or HDs 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216 and 217 is now open to trapping.

The occupied grizzly bear habitat in FWP Region 5 is also open. This includes areas northeast of Yellowstone National Park.

The rest of the occupied grizzly bear habitat in Montana remains closed to wolf trapping due to grizzly bear activity.

According to a chart provided by FWP, radio-collared grizzlies in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem, which includes HD 100 and 104, are either denned or at their dens. In addition, there have been no encounters, conflicts or sightings in the last week.

In the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem West Region 1, which includes HD 101 and 103, there were no encounters, conflicts or sights.

The only grizzly activity in NCDE West Region 1 included multiple grizzly tracks that were confirmed in the snow in the Northfork and Swan regions. Three of 12 collared grizzlies were still out.

There was a report of a black bear sighting in Kalispell with tracks and a bear getting into garbage in the Lawrence Park area.

Weather forecasts, which include snow and cold, also played a role in the agency’s determination to open wolf trapping season.

In August, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved wolf hunting and trapping regulations for the 2022 season, which ends March 15, 2023.

The regulations include a floating start date for wolf trapping in occupied grizzly bear habitat.

The intent of the floating start date is to avoid conflict with grizzly bears that haven't denned for the winter. Wolf trapping in these areas opens Dec. 31 unless FWP opens it early due to a decline in grizzly bear activity.

FWP makes a decision opening trapping in occupied bear habitat each Monday in December with input from field staff on bear activity.

Wolf trapping is open in all other areas of the state. Hunters and trappers should note that wolf harvest quotas exist in each FWP trapping district and wolf management unit 313. Those harvest quotas can be viewed and followed on the FWP Wolf Dashboard.

Wolf hunters and trappers should make sure to be familiar with the 2022 Furbearer, Wolf and Trapping Regulations, which include maps of occupied grizzly bear habitat.