Montana's Wolf Trapping Season Shortened to Protect Grizzly Bears

Federal judge's ruling limits trapping to Jan. 1 through Feb. 15, when most grizzlies are expected to be in dens; state plans to appeal.

Federal Judge Donald Molloy in Montana has significantly shortened the state’s wolf trapping season to protect grizzly bears that have not yet begun hibernating from being injured by traps.
The wolf trapping season can now only run from Jan. 1 through Feb. 15, a time during which it is reasonably certain that almost all grizzly bears will be in dens.
The injunction applies to all five of the state’s wolf hunting districts along with Hill, Blaine and Phillips counties in north-central Montana — basically the western two-thirds of the state.
The state plans to appeal and will continue to track the denning status of grizzly bears in case its appeal is successful and the injunction is overturned.
Grizzly bears are listed as protected under the Endangered Species Act, which prevents states from authorizing activities that are reasonably likely to kill, trap or injure a listed species.