Bill No.: SF0041                     Drafter:  LGC

LSO No.:   12LSO-0078                 Effective Date:  March 7, 2012

Enrolled Act No.:    SEA0026

Chapter No.:         CH0025

Prime Sponsor:       Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Interim Committee

Catch Title:         Wolf management.

Subject:             Amending statutory gray wolf management provisions.

Summary/Major Elements:

· In 2011, the governor entered into an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service setting forth an acceptable state management plan for wolves in Wyoming.  Acceptance of the plan should result in removal of gray wolves in Wyoming from the endangered species act.

· This act amends the statutory provisions regarding gray wolf management to implement the agreement.

· Under this act, wolves will be managed as trophy game animals in a specified area in the northwestern part of the state year round and in an expanded area in the western part of the state from October 15 through the end of February each year.

· The act provides that seasons and bag limits on wolves will be set to maintain a population in the state, outside Yellowstone National Park and the Wind River Indian Reservation, of 100 individual animals and 10 breeding pairs.

· The act repeals the commission’s and the governor’s authority to change the boundaries of the trophy game area.  The act also provides time limits for reporting when a wolf is taken as a trophy game animal.

· The act allows for payment of damage claims for livestock lost to wolf depredation and clarifies when a wolf may be killed for depredation of livestock.  The act also allows predator management boards to access state funds to control wolves where they are classified as predators.