New state wildlife manager here to watch the wolves

Kent Laudon knows wolves and he knows the contentious politics that come with them.

Now he must learn about Northwest Montana wolves and the people they live around.

Since Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks assumed lead authority over wolf management in Northwest Montana earlier this year, Laudon is the first wolf management specialist to be hired by the state to monitor the region's wolves.

Laudon, 40, most recently worked with Idaho wolves as a seasonal employee with the Nez Perce tribes, a job he has done since 1997. He's also done mule deer and elk research for Idaho Fish and Game since 2000.

In his seven years of wolf work, Laudon has learned a few things.

"Most of it or all of it is not about wolves," he said. "I've learned just as much about society and people as I have about wolf biology along the way."

Laudon said he is familiar with how wolves are perceived from "both sides of the fence."

"People tend to boil down issues and simplify them," he said. "And once we start going down that path, we also tend to accept only things that support what we believe."

That leads people to either demonize or romanticize wolves, Laudon said.

Wolves are not that simple, Laudon contends.

Do wolves kill only sick and old animals?

"That's overly simplistic of what wolves are," he said. "And conversely, do wolves kill for sport? That's overly simplistic, too."

Laudon said he takes a firmly neutral stance in the crossfire over wolves, understanding valid points from wolf supporters and opponents.

"I'm authentic about it," he said. "I really do see good points from both sides. I really do empathize with positions from both sides."

But the advantages of his experience and regular monitoring of the region's packs also inform his understanding.

One of the major parts of Laudon's job will involve continuous monitoring of the movements of Northwest Montana's eight known packs. That job requires weekly flights, which are difficult to accomplish when there are poor weather conditions.

"I've always considered that part of my job is just day-to-day field PR, just talking to folks, and hopefully disseminating some factual information," he said.

Public relations work will also involve contacts with livestock owners and pursuing measures that can discourage losses to wolves.

Those efforts can involve simply letting ranchers know when wolves are nearby. Or it can advance to hazing wolves away from certain properties, or using automated technology to keep wolves away.

"I'm more than happy to do what I can to help folks out. But it's tough," he said. "Sometimes you can steer the situation, but sometimes the wolves are just going to do what they want to do."

In the end, the state now has the authority to kill wolves that kill livestock in Northwest Montana.

Laudon will spend part of this winter conducting track surveys to locate any new packs that might be forming. And a constant part of the job, he said, will involve making contacts with people who live or work near wolves.

Laudon said he intends to meet with state, federal and tribal biologists, wardens and others who work in the field to let them know he's on the job. Laudon contends those folks can be helpful in many ways; but mostly, they can be contacts who refer the public to Laudon if there are concerns or questions about wolves.

Having the help of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials could provide Laudon with an advantage that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service never had when it was monitoring and managing wolves in Northwest Montana. People know their local wardens and biologists, who can refer questions and concerns to Laudon.

As the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service always did, Laudon wants to hear from people who hear or see wolves. With a concentration of reports, Laudon can investigate an area, locate a pack, and get radio collars into that pack so that it can be monitored.

"The more we know about wolf populations, the better we can manage them," he said.

Laudon urges people with wolf reports or simply questions about wolves to call him at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks headquarters in Kalispell, 751-4586.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com