Wolf Advocacy Groups Support Montana Wolf Conservation Stamp

Wed Jun 04, 2014

by ban noc

Wolves of the Rockies, Living with Wolves, Endangered Species Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife and the Montana Wildlife Federation all spoke up in favor of a Wolf Stamp at a public meeting of the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) the week before last, said Zak Strong wildlife advocate with the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC).

In a rare instance of unanimity every person who spoke at the meeting praised the establishment of a stamp and the FWP commission voted unanimously for the proposal.

What exactly would the stamp pay for?

 According to the NRDC's blog funds would be equally allocated in three ways.

One third would be made available to Montana livestock owners to help pay for nonlethal ways to protect their animals from predators like wolves, bears and mountain lions.  By keeping both livestock and large carnivores alive, this would be a good deal for ranchers and wolves alike. Another third would be used to pay for studying wolves, educating the public about wolves, and improving or purchasing suitable wolf habitat.  This would benefit everyone, by increasing our knowledge about wolves, ensuring the public has access to accurate information about wolves, and securing habitat in which wolves and other wildlife can thrive.
The final third would be used to hire additional FWP wardens—essentially, wildlife police—in occupied wolf habitat.  This would enhance enforcement of our wildlife management laws as they pertain to wolves and other species, and reduce incidents of poaching, trespassing, wasting animals, unlawful use of or failure to check traps, and other violations.  This is something every Montanan and every American—hunters, non-hunters, property owners, public land users, agency officials, recreationists, and wildlife enthusiasts alike—should encourage and support.

The idea of non hunters purchasing a stamp for a species they support is not new. Many birders purchase duck stamps. Many hunters already purchase licenses for species they've no intent on hunting. Every year I purchase a moose tag knowing full well I'll be pushing up daisies before I have enough seniority to actually win the moose draw. I figure it's a small donation and a signal to my Division of Wildlife that I support moose in my state. 

 

What do these stamps cost? What do they look like? Where do I get one?

Not so fast. The details have to all be worked out, some kind of administration set up, forms and rules to be printed and approved yadayadayada. I'd expect in the fall. Meanwhile you can send a short note to Montana FWP telling them what a great idea this is. You can even just send them a check now and not get a stamp.

Very few orgs or people actually donate to fund the study of wolves. To date Montana mostly uses fees from hunting licenses. The funds generated from wolf hunting licenses are used solely for support of wolves, and some people who don't hunt buy licenses simply to signal their support. This stamp would be a way to do the same thing without having to pass a hunter ed class.
http://fwp.mt.gov/...


Waiting for a Chinook Charles Russel

source