Montana Proposes to Triple Wolf Harvest near Yellowstone

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana officials want to triple the number of gray wolves hunters and trappers can kill in an area bordering Yellowstone National Park.

The proposal would increase the annual quota in a hunting district near Gardiner, from two wolves to six. That's almost one-third of the area's wolves.

It follows complaints from park scientists that even under a smaller quota too many wolves were being killed once they stepped into Montana.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Ron Aasheim says the agency has heard concerns from outfitters that the predators kill too many elk.

He says the higher quota would stabilize but not reduce wolf population around Gardiner.

There's no limit on how many wolves can be killed statewide. Hunters and trappers harvested 210 of the animals during the 2015 season.