10/13/09

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) _ Montana wildlife commissioners on Tuesday
shut down wolf hunting near Yellowstone National Park after nine of
the predators were killed there in recent weeks, but kept the
statewide wolf harvest quota unchanged at 75 animals.

Hunting was suspended near Yellowstone last week, after an early
season backcountry harvest nearly filled the 12 wolf quota for most
of the southern half of the state.

Environmentalists subsequently pressed for a reduction in the
statewide quota. Others pushed for a higher quota to allow more
hunting elsewhere in the Yellowstone region, to help curb wolf
attacks on livestock.

Striking a middle ground, the five-member Fish, Wildlife and
Parks Commission voted unanimously to keep the statewide quota in
place but close the backcountry area for the remainder of the
season.

This year's hunt is the first since wolves came off the
endangered species list this spring in Montana and neighboring
Idaho.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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