Agate’s Pack former Alpha Female 471F from 2011 (photo: Brandi Nichols)

Yesterday, Montana wildlife commissioners closed down the gray wolf hunting season in some areas outside Yellowstone National Park after several collared wolves were shot when beyond the safety of Yellowstone’s reach. This move comes just days after Yellowstone Wolf “06″ fell victim outside the park in neighboring Wyoming. The closures prohibit hunting and trapping and include areas north of the park around the town of Gardiner. The great folks from National Wolfwatcher Coalition are among those responsible for the temporary hunt closures, their concerns began back in August when at the very least they asked for a hunt and trap-free zone enacted immediately to surround Yellowstone National Park to protect this shrinking population of wolves. So today we give howls of gratitude to the wildlife advocates who spoke up on behalf of this special population of wolves. While this news is promising, it comes after the deaths of 12 Yellowstone, of which 7 were collared. This Saturday marks the opening day of Montana’s first wolf trapping season. How will pets and wildlife fare when faced with these indiscriminate and barbaric hunting tools? We’ll know soon enough.

 Read more: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/wildlife/article_6518eac4-4315-11e2-8afa-001a4bcf887a.html