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Montana at a glance

Radio collared wolf pack – Courtesy of Montana FWP

Gray wolves once existed throughout Montana but persecution and, eventually, poisoning began shortly after European settlement, and by the late-1930s no wolves were left.

In the early 1980s, wolves dispersed from Canada, making their way back into northwest Montana. Wolves also began moving north and east into Montana from Wyoming and Idaho after wolf reintroduction in those states in 1995 and 1996. Wolves continue to be a controversial subject, and public attitudes vary.

Main prey for wolves there are elk, moose, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and beaver. Most wolves occupy the western portion of the state.

This page on Montana.gov provides complete information.

Montana’s wolf management plan includes an annual hunting season. Additional information

Species Information

Species
Common Name: gray wolf, northwestern wolf, Rocky Mountain wolf
Latin Name: Canis lupus
Location: Wolf range in Montana is shown in purple on the map.

Current Wolf Population, Trend, Status
Number of wolves: about 900 in 2017 (as estimated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks)
Population trend: Stable
Legal status: State managed as of May 5, 2011

Human Relationships

Recovery and Management

Radio collared gray wolf – Image courtesy of Montana FWP

Hunting

Ecology

Radio collaring a wolf – Montana FWP

Habitat

Prey and Predation

Depredation

Recent media coverage