montana wildlife: Montana FWP goes forward with ‘full-fledged’ wolf hunt
- 07/16/11 07:44 AM
Wolves surround a bison In what one official characterized as Montana's "first full-fledged wolf hunt," the state will allow hunters to kill 220 of the animals this fall, a figure that represents 40 percent of the total known wolf population in the state. The quota is also nearly triple that of 2009, the last year Montana declared open season on the species that has prompted lawsuits and congressional budget riders as biologists, hunters, environmentalists and ranchers wrangled over whether the wolf in Montana should be protected by the Endangered Species Act.
In the latest chapter of the ongoing saga, … (1 comments)
Mule Deer are named for their resemblance to the domestic mule due to the shape and size of their ears, which can be nine inches long. Mule deer are a significant part of the major mammal ecosystem in Montana. Mule deer are distributed throughout the state and are present in nearly all areas from eastern border to western border as well as northern border to southern border. Mule deer have very acute vision and hearing; however they rely largely on their sense of smell to determine their surroundings. Although their vision is very acute they can easily overlook stationary objects … (5 comments)
Whitetails get their highly creative name from the underside of their posterior, which they wave like flags when in flight as a visual alarm to other deer in the area. Exceptionally graceful, built for speed and stealth, whitetails have a tendency to materialize from thin air and disappear again in much the same way; they will attempt to quietly sneak away from danger before being detected or going into full flight. They are highly alert animals that have a sense of smell coupled with an ability to detect noises that are far superior to those of humans. Their noses are so … (2 comments)
For as much attention in recent years that the mountain lion has garnered, they are exceptionally seclusive animals and very few humans have actually seen a lion in the wild. I have been fortunate enough to have seen them on several occasions, at great distance and in close quarters. They are wholly impressive, sleek and powerful, silent and calculating...true predators. Mountain lions are the largest member of the cat family in the Americas and have the most extensive range of any mammal in the western hemisphere, besides man. They rely … (5 comments)
Moose, in my opinion, are so ugly they are almost beautiful and for those of you who have seen this long-legged, gangly creature know exactly what I mean. Although they are not as regal as elk, elusive as deer or nearly as interesting political fodder as wolves or Yellowstone bison, moose are a specific and important portion of the Montana ecosystem. First noted on the Lewis and Clark Expedition in May of 1805 near the Milk River of Montana, moose are the largest of the deer family and the largest antlered animal in the world. … (6 comments)
Perhaps the most stirring, and documented animal in the history of man, the bear appears in ancient literature, mythology, cave drawings, and folklore. Unfortunately, many stories surrounding the ferocity of bears do not make the distinction between the grizzly, and its more docile cousin the black bear. Although they prefer higher elevation forests, droppings indicate heavy use of thorn-apple and other fruiting shrubs at lower elevations. Black bears are very diverse animals, populating much of North America. Their native habitat, although much has been developed, consists of mountainous and wooded ecosystems that stretch from Alaska to Florida, Canada … (5 comments)
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Wolves surround a bison
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