Governor Gianforte Blasts Judicial Activism Shrinking Wolf Trapping Season

• November 22 2023

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today issued the following statement in response to U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy’s order to shorten wolf trapping season:

“Just ahead of Thanksgiving and the start of wolf trapping season, the judge’s sweeping order tramples the rights of trappers while a few environmental extremists abuse the ESA and ride the gravy train of judicial activism,” Governor Greg Gianforte said. “Montana has a healthy, sustainable population of wolves and grizzlies, and there has been no incidental take of grizzlies from wolf trapping in Montana since 2013. And yet misusing ESA protections for the grizzly to thwart the state’s wolf management plan, the activist judge has obstructed the state from responsibly managing wolves based on the sound science of FWP biologists. The state has appealed this textbook case of judicial activism, and urges the federal government to review and approve the state’s petition to delist the grizzly which has recovered in Montana’s ecosystems.”

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