BILLINGS, Mont. — Trappers can now harvest gray wolves in Montana, as the state’s first wolf trapping season got underway since the animals lost federal protection last year.
State officials say about 2,400 people are eligible to participate after taking a required wolf certification class.
Montana had about 653 wolves at the end of last year. State wildlife officials are trying to drive down that number through aggressive hunting and trapping seasons.
Some areas north of Yellowstone National Park were closed in advance of trapping over concerns that too many collared wolves had been shot by hunters.
Statewide, at least 92 wolves have been killed so far this season.
Wolf trapping and hunting continues in Montana through the end of February.
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