HELENA- Fish, Wildlife and Parks says a rancher shot and killed a wolf that was chasing dogs on Thursday.
The incident happened on private land bordering Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Land near the head of Little Otter Creek northeast of Monarch.
According to FWP, the male wolf was between two and three years old and weighed around 100 pounds. It was about 150 yards from a home when it was shot. None of the dogs it was chasing were injured.
Montana law allows a person to kill a wolf it is attacking or killing a domestic dog. The incident must be reported to FWP within 72 hours.
FWP says the landowner did notify authorities. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also discussed steps that could be taken if wolves were suspected of killing livestock.
The landowner did say several calves had been killed in previous weeks.
A wolf pack was detected in the southern portion of the Little Belt Mountains in last year. FWP says it isn’t clear exactly how many wolves are in the area.
