Judge hears arguments on shortening Montana’s wolf trapping season to protect grizzlies

An attorney for the State of Montana told a federal judge Monday that the floating wolf trapping season will certainly not start next Monday, as is possible under this year’s regulations, as the judge heard arguments about whether to shorten the trapping season out of concerns for endangered grizzly bears.

Following the hour-long hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy told the two sides he would issue a ruling on whether to grant a preliminary injunction blocking part of the wolf trapping season in grizzly territory “relatively quickly,” as the season is days or weeks from getting underway.

The plaintiffs, Flathead-Lolo-Bitterroot Citizen Task Force and WildEarth Guardians, are asking the court to block wolf and coyote trapping and snaring in all parts of Montana west of Billings outside of Jan. 1 to Feb. 15 each year. They say any grizzly that accidentally gets captured in a trap or snare constitutes an illegal “take” as defined by the Endangered Species Act regardless of whether they injure or kill an animal.