Wolf Crossing

What’s next for Wolves?  George Edwards doesn’t work for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the agency now in charge of managing wolves in the state.

But his work will play a large role in maintaining a viable wolf population in Montana by building public acceptance of the wolf, particularly in the ranching community, state officials said.

Edwards, who works for the Department of Livestock, is the state’s first livestock loss mitigation coordinator. Beginning next month, livestock producers will submit their financial claims to Edwards for animals hunted and killed by the state’s now thriving wolf population.

Wolves, which number more than 400 in Montana and 1,500 in the Northern Rockies, came off the federal endangered species list Friday, turning management over to the states.

The price tag for reimbursing ranchers, as well as funding guard dogs and other conflict prevention efforts, is expected to cost more than $200,000 annually. The money won’t just come from the state, as federal funding also will be sought. One of Edwards’ main jobs will be fundraising. Edwards noted that some of the state’s most prominent residents, such as cable TV mogul Ted Turner, will be asked to contribute.

Both those who argue that federal protections should have been removed from the wolf long ago, and those who say lifting them was premature, agree on one thing: For the wolf to survive under state management, it’s critical for the state to pay the bills of ranchers who pay the price for its return.

“This piece, needs to work for the overall wolf management plan to work,” Edwards said of the state’s new compensation program.

Throughout history, people have had a love-hate attitude toward wolves, said Carolyn Sime, the state’s wolf program coordinator.

It’s the goal of the state, she said, to prevent a pendulum swing in the other direction by keeping the wolf population from getting too large and compensating landowners who are making sacrifices to have wolves back.

“If people are not willing to live with wolves, they kill them,” she said.

Wolves sometimes are mistaken for coyotes or domestic dogs. But their striking physical characteristics — long legs, large feet, blocky heads and weight (males can weigh up to 130 pounds) — set them apart.