The government says it s a conservation success story. Wolves disappeared because we persecuted and killed them, said Ed Bangs of the Fish and Wildlife Service. And they are coming back because we now protect them. But if approved, the protected status of the wolf would change dramatically. Today, wolves are on the endangered species list in 47 of 48 states, everywhere but Minnesota.
Critics say it s happening too fast.
Primarily that they could be legally scared away or even shot and killed, not just by the government agents who monitor trouble today, but by property owners. Of the 3,500 wolves now living in the lower 48 states, about 300 live in Montana and not just in the mountains anymore. They ve moved to the valleys forcing conflicts again with the very ranchers that wiped them out in the first place. Last year alone, six wolves were killed after attacking livestocks outside of Bozeman. Martin Davis, who has been ranching for 34 years, has 60 horses and 120 cattle.