HELENA — A wolf has been shot and killed after a ranch hand spotted it near Montana’s capital.
The Helena Independent Record reports that the wolf was seen near cattle and believed to be a threat.
Sgt. Dave Loewen, warden of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, says it is fairly unusual to see a wolf in the Helena Valley region. He says the wolf was reported on Saturday and FWP was notified Sunday that ranch hand at Flying W Ranch shot the animal after seeing it among the livestock.
Loewen says the shooting was completely legal because the predator was a threat to the livestock. He says the ranch was right to call the FWP to immediately report the shooting. FWP took possession of the animal because it was not killed while hunting.