House Bill 554 proposes to amend Section 87-5-131 of the Montana Code Annotated by removing the requirement for the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to manage, protect, classify, or regulate wolves as game animals or furbearers. The bill allows for the removal of the gray wolf from the state list of endangered species following its delisting by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, contingent upon a determination by the department that the wolf is no longer endangered.

Additionally, the bill modifies the management protocol for wolves post-delisting. It eliminates the previous stipulation that the department must determine when wolves no longer need protection as a species in need of management before they can be classified as game animals or furbearers. Instead, the department and the Department of Livestock are authorized to control wolves to protect livestock, provided that such actions align with an approved wolf management plan. The plan must also allow for the issuance of special kill permits to landowners or public land permittees who have experienced livestock depredation.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 87-5-131
HB0554_1(1): 87-5-131
HB0554_1(2): 87-5-131
HB0554_1(3): 87-5-131
HB0554_1(4): 87-5-131
HB0554_1(5): 87-5-131
HB0554_1: 87-5-131
HB0554_X(1): 87-5-131
HB0554_X(2): 87-5-131
HB0554_X(3): 87-5-131
HB0554_X(4): 87-5-131
HB0554_X: 87-5-131